SDF-1 binding nucleic acids and the use thereof in cancer treatment

ABSTRACT

The present invention is related to a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to SDF-1, preferably capable of inhibiting SDF-1, whereby the nucleic acid molecule is for use in a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, for use in a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from a disease or disorder or being at risk of developing a disease or disorder as an adjunct therapy, or for use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, whereby the disease or disorder is cancer.

The present invention is related to nucleic acid molecules binding to the CXC chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), methods for the treatment of cancer, and their use in the manufacture of a medicament.

Stromal-cell derived factor-1 (abbr.: SDF-1; synonyms, CXCL12; PBSF [pre-B-cell growth-stimulating factor]; TPAR-1 [TPA repressed gene 1]; SCYB12; TLSF [thymic lymphoma cell stimulating factor]; hIRH [human intercrine reduced in hepatomas]) is an angiogenic CXC chemokine that does not contain the ELR motif typical of the IL-8-like chemokines (Salcedo, Wasserman et al. 1999; Salcedo and Oppenheim 2003) but binds and activates the G-protein coupled receptor CXCR4. As a result of alternative splicing, there are two forms of SDF-1, SDF-1α (68 amino acids, SEQ ID NO: 1) and SDF-1β (SEQ ID NO: 2), which, compared to SDF-1α carries five additional amino acids at the C-terminus (Shirozu, Nakano et al. 1995).

The amino acid sequence conservation between SDF-1 from different species is remarkable: human SDF-1α (SEQ. ID. 1) and murine SDF-1α (SEQ ID NO: 3) are virtually identical. There is only a single conservative change of V to I at position 18 (Shirozu, Nakano et al. 1995).

Since the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4 is widely expressed on leukocytes, mature dendritic cells, endothelial cells, brain cells, and megakaryocytes, the activities of SDF-1 are pleiotropic. This chemokine, more than any other identified thus far, exhibits the widest range of biological functions. The most significant functional effects of SDF-1 are:

-   -   Homing and attachment of epithelial cells to neovascular sites         in the choroid portion of the retina;     -   SDF-1 is required to maintain stem cells and progenitor cells,         e.g. hematopoietic progenitor (usually CD34+) cells in the bone         marrow of the adult;     -   SDF-1 supports proliferation of pre-B cells and augments the         growth of bone marrow B cell progenitors and it induces specific         migration of pre- and pro-B cells, while not acting as a         significant chemoattractant for mature B cells;     -   SDF-1 is one of the most efficacious T cell chemoattractants;         and     -   SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are essential for embryonic         development.

Altered expression levels of SDF-1 or its receptor CXCR4 or altered responses towards those molecules are said to be associated with many human diseases, such as retinopathy (Brooks, Caballero et al. 2004; Butler, Guthrie et al. 2005; Meleth, Agron et al. 2005); cancer of breast (Muller, Homey et al. 2001; Cabioglu, Sahin et al. 2005), ovaries (Scotton, Wilson et al. 2002), pancreas (Koshiba, Hosotani et al. 2000), thyroid (Hwang, Chung et al. 2003) and nasopharynx (Wang, Wu et al. 2005); glioma (Zhou, Larsen et al. 2002); neuroblastoma (Geminder, Sagi-Assif et al. 2001); B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Burger, Tsukada et al. 2000); WHIM syndrome (WHIM is an abbreviation for Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, Myelokathexis syndrome) (Gulino, Moratto et al. 2004; Balabanian, Lagane et al. 2005b; Kawai, Choi et al. 2005); immunologic deficiency syndromes (Arya, Ginsberg et al. 1999; Marechal, Arenzana-Seisdedos et al. 1999; Soriano, Martinez et al. 2002); pathologic neovascularization (Salvucci, Yao et al. 2002; Yamaguchi, Kusano et al. 2003; Grunewald, Avraham et al. 2006); inflammation (Murdoch 2000; Fedyk, Jones et al. 2001; Wang, Guan et al. 2001); multiple sclerosis (Krumbholz, Theil et al. 2006); rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis (Buckley, Amft et al. 2000; Kanbe, Takagishi et al. 2002; Grassi, Cristino et al. 2004).

Tumors (including solid and hematological neoplasias and malignancies) are not just masses of cancer cells: infiltration of tumors with immune-cells is a characteristic of cancer. Many human cancers have a complex chemokine network that influences the extent and phenotype of this infiltrate, as well as tumor growth, survival, migration, and angiogenesis. Most solid tumors contain many non-malignant stromal cells. Indeed, stromal cells sometimes outnumber cancer cells. The predominant stromal cells that are found in cancers are macrophages, lymphocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts.

Cells from different cancer types have different profiles of chemokine-receptor expression, but the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4 is most commonly found in tumor cells of mouse and man: tumor cells from at least 23 different types of human cancers of epithelial, mesenchymal, and haematopoietic origin express CXCR4 (Balkwill 2004) with SDF-1 being the only known ligand for CXCR4. Apart from the bone marrow and secondary lymphoid tissue, where it is constitutively expressed, SDF-1 is found in primary tumor sites in lymphoma (Corcione, Ottonello et al. 2000) and brain tumors of both neuronal and astrocytic lineage. Furthermore, it is present at high levels in ovarian (Scotton, Wilson et al. 2002) and pancreatic cancer (Koshiba, Hosotani et al. 2000) as well as at sites of metastasis in breast (Muller, Homey et al. 2001) and thyroid cancer (Hwang, Chung et al. 2003), neuroblastoma and haematological malignancies (Geminder, Sagi-Assif et al. 2001).

Besides CXCR4 another SDF-1 receptor was identified: RDC1/CXCR7 (Balabanian, Lagane et al. 2005a, Burns, Summers et al. 2006). In vitro and in vivo studies with prostate cancer cell lines suggest that alterations in CXCR7/RDC1 expression are associated with enhanced adhesive and invasive activities in addition to a survival advantage. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that both receptors for SDF-1, namely CXCR4 and the CXCR7 promote tumor growth, metastatic potential and resistance to (chemotherapy induced) apoptosis in a number of tumors, e.g breast cancer, glioblastomas, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, lung cancer colorectal and prostate cancer (Burns et al, 2006; Li et al, 2008; Scotton et al, 2002; Yang et al, 2008; Zagzag et al, 2008).

CXCR4 and CXCR7 expression thus seems to be a general characteristic of several tumours.

The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a means which specifically interacts with SDF-1, whereby the means are suitable for the prevention and/or treatment of and/or cancer.

Another problem underlying the present invention is to provide a means which supports the therapy of cancer, whereby such therapy of cancer typically makes use of chemotherapy and/or radiation.

A further problem underlying the present invention is to provide a means which is suitable for use an adjunct therapy in the treatment of cancer.

A still further problem underlying the present invention is to provide a means which is capable of chemosensitizing patient suffering cancer and/or chemosensitizing cells forming or being part of a cancer.

These and other problems underlying the present invention are solved by the subject matter of the attached independent claims. Preferred embodiments may be taken from the dependent claims.

More specifically, the problem underlying the present invention is solved in a first aspect which is also the first embodiment of the first aspect, by a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to SDF-1, preferably capable of inhibiting SDF-1, whereby the nucleic acid molecule is for use in a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, for use in a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from a disease or disorder or being at risk of developing a disease or disorder as an adjunct therapy, or for use as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, whereby the disease or disorder is cancer.

In a second embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first embodiment of the first aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of hematological cancer, whereby preferably the hematological cancer is selected from the group comprising leukemia and myeloma.

In a third embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the second embodiment of the first aspect, leukemia is selected from the group comprising chronic lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

In a fourth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the second embodiment of the first aspect, myeloma is multiple myeloma.

In a fifth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first embodiment of the first aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of solid tumors, whereby preferably the solid tumors are selected from the group comprising glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.

In a sixth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the first aspect, the adjunct therapy sensitizes the subject, wherein the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder.

In a seventh embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the sixth embodiment of the first aspect, the therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the diseases or disorder comprises the administration of a further pharmaceutically active agent and/or irradiating the subject and/or surgery and/or cellular therapy.

In an eighth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the seventh embodiment of the first aspect, the further pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group comprising of an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, a plant terpenoid, a topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone, Flurouracil, and Prednisone.

In a ninth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the antibody is selected from the group comprising Rituximab, Ofatumumab, Cetuximab, Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan, Tositumomab, Trastuzumab, Bevacizumab, and Alemtuzumab.

In a tenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the alkylating agent is selected from the group comprising cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, doxorubicin, lioposomal doxorubicin, bendamustine, temozolomide and Melphalan.

In an eleventh embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the anti-metabolite is selected from the group comprising purineazathioprine, mercaptopurine, fludarabine, pentostatin, and cladribine.

In a twelfth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the plant terpenoid is selected from the group comprising a taxane more preferably selected from the group comprising Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin and epothilone.

In a thirteenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the topoisomerase inhibitor is selected from the group comprising camptothecin, irinotecan, and mitoxantrone.

In a fourteenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth and the thirteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the nucleic acid molecule is capable of blocking the interaction between SDF-1 and an SDF-1 receptor, whereby the SDF-1 receptor is selected from the group comprising CXCR4 and CXCR7.

In a fifteenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth and the fourteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the treatment or prevention of the disease or disorder is caused by the nucleic acid molecule inhibiting the interaction between SDF-1 and an SDF-1 receptor.

In a sixteenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth and the fifteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group comprising an SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type B, an SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type C, an SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type A and an SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type D.

In a seventeenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the sixteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type B comprises a central stretch of nucleotides, whereby the central stretch of nucleotides comprises the following nucleotide sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 52) 5′ GUGUGAUCUAGAUGUADWGGCUGWUCCUAGUYAGG 3′.

In an eighteenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the seventeenth embodiment of the first aspect, the central stretch of nucleotides comprises the following nucleotide sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 53) 5′ GUGUGAUCUAGAUGUADUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGG 3′.

In a nineteenth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the seventeenth and the eighteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type B comprises in 5′->3′ direction a first terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides, and a second terminal stretch of nucleotides.

In a twentieth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the seventeenth and the eighteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type B comprises in 5′->3′ direction a second terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides, and a first terminal stretch of nucleotides.

In a twenty-first embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the nineteenth and the twentieth embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X₁X₂SVNS 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ BVBSX₃X₄ 3′, whereby

X₁ is either absent or is A, X₂ is G, X₃ is C and X₄ is either absent or is U; or X₁ is absent, X₂ is either absent or is G, X₃ is either absent or is C and X₄ is absent.

In a twenty-second embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the nineteenth, the twentieth and the twenty-first, preferably the twenty-first, embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X₁X₂CRWG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ KRYSX₃X₄ 3′,

whereby X₁ is either absent or A, X₂ is G, X₃ is C and X₄ is either absent or U.

In a twenty-third embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first and the twenty-second, preferably the twenty-first or the twenty-second embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X₁X₂CGUG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ UACGX₃X₄ 3′,

whereby X₁ is either absent or A, X₂ is G, X₃ is C, and X₄ is either absent or U, preferably the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ AGCGUG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ UACGCU 3′.

In a twenty-fourth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the nineteenth, the twentieth and the twenty-first, preferably the twenty-first embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X₁X₂SSBS 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ BVSSX₃X₄ 3′,

whereby X₁ is absent, X₂ is either absent or G, X₃ is either absent or C, and X₄ is absent, preferably the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ GCGUG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ UACGC 3′.

In a twenty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third and the twenty-fourth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type B comprises a nucleotide sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NO: 5 to SEQ ID NO: 20 and SEQ ID NO: 22 to SEQ ID NO: 28,

preferably any one of SEQ ID NO: 5 to SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 22 and SEQ ID NO: 28, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NO: 22 and SEQ ID NO: 28.

In a twenty-sixth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the sixteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type C comprises a central stretch of nucleotides, whereby the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of GGUYAGGGCUHRX_(A)AGUCGG (SEQ ID NO: 108),

whereby X_(A) is either absent or is A.

In a twenty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-sixth embodiment of the first aspect, the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ GGUYAGGGCUHRAAGUCGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 109), 5′ GGUYAGGGCUHRAGUCGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 110) or 5′ GGUUAGGGCUHGAAGUCGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 111), preferably 5′ GGUUAGGGCUHGAAGUCGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 111).

In a twenty-eighth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-sixth and the twenty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type C comprises in 5′->3′ direction a first terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides, and a second terminal stretch of nucleotides.

In a twenty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-sixth and the twenty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type C comprises in 5′->3′ direction a second terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides, and a first terminal stretch of nucleotides.

In a thirtieth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-eighth and the twenty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ RKSBUSNVGR 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 138) and the second stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ YYNRCASSMY 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 139),

preferably the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ RKSBUGSVGR 3 ‘(SEQ ID NO: 140) and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5’ YCNRCASSMY 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 141).

In a thirty-first embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-eighth and the twenty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X_(S)SSSV 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ BSSSX_(S) 3′, whereby X_(s) is either absent or is S,

preferably the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ SGGSR 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ YSCCS 3′.

In a thirty-second embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-eighth and the twenty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect,

-   -   a) the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a         nucleotide sequence of 5′ GCCGG 3′ and the second terminal         stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′         CCGGC 3′; or     -   b) the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a         nucleotide sequence of 5′ CGUGCGCUUGAGAUAGG 3 ‘(SEQ ID NO: 220)         and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a         nucleotide sequence of 5’ CUGAUUCUCACG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 221); or     -   c) the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a         nucleotide sequence of 5′ UGAGAUAGG 3′ and the second terminal         stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′         CUGAUUCUCA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 222); or     -   d) the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a         nucleotide sequence of 5′ GAGAUAGG 3′ and the second terminal         stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′         CUGAUUCUC 3′.

In a thirty-third embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first and the thirty-second embodiment of the first aspect, the type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NO: 95 to SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 112 to SEQ ID NO: 137, SEQ ID NO: 223 and SEQ ID NO: 224,

preferably any one of SEQ ID NO: 120, SEQ ID NO: 128, SEQ ID NO: 129, SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO: 135, SEQ ID NO: 223 and SEQ ID NO: 224.

In a thirty-fourth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the sixteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type A comprises a central stretch of nucleotides, whereby the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ AAAGYRACAHGUMAAX_(A)UGAAAGGUARC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 74),

whereby X_(A) is either absent or is A.

In a thirty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-fourth embodiment of the first aspect, the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of

5′AAAGYRACAHGUMAAUGAAAGGUARC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 75), or 5′ AAAGYRACAHGUMAAAUGAAAGGUARC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 76), or

5′ AAAGYAACAHGUCAAUGAAAGGUARC 3′(SEQ ID NO: 77), preferably the central stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ AAAGYAACAHGUCAAUGAAAGGUARC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 77).

In a thirty-sixth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type A comprises in 5′->3′ direction a first terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides, and a second terminal stretch of nucleotides.

In a thirty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-fourth and the thirty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type A comprises in 5′->3′ direction a second terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides, and a first terminal stretch of nucleotides.

In a thirty-eighth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-sixth and the thirty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X₁X₂NNBV 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ BNBNX₃X₄ 3′

whereby X₁ is either absent or R, X₂ is S, X₃ is S and X₄ is either absent or Y; or X₁ is absent, X₂ is either absent or S, X₃ is either absent or S and X₄ is absent.

In a thirty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh and the thirty-eighth, preferably the thirty-eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ RSHRYR 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ YRYDSY 3′,

preferably the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ GCUGUG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ CGCAGC 3′.

In a fortieth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh and the thirty-eighth, preferably the thirty-eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ X₂BBBS 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ SBBVX₃ 3′,

whereby X₂ is either absent or is S and X₃ is either absent or is S; preferably the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ CUGUG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ CGCAG 3′; or the first terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ GCGUG 3′ and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides comprises a nucleotide sequence of 5′ CGCGC 3′.

In a forty-first embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth and the fortieth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type A comprises a nucleotide sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NO: 60 to SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 78 to SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 84 to SEQ ID NO: 87, SEQ ID NO: 89 to SEQ ID NO: 94, and SEQ ID NO: 145,

preferably any one of SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 84, and SEQ ID NO: 146, more preferably any one of SEQ ID NO: 84 and SEQ ID NO: 146.

In a forty-second embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the sixteenth embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of type D comprises a nucleotide sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NO: 142 to SEQ ID NO: 144.

In a forty-third embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first and the forty-second embodiment of the first aspect, the SDF-1 is human SDF-1, whereby preferably the human SDF-1 is human SDF-1 alpha or human SDF-1 beta, more preferably the human SDF-1 is human SDF-1 alpha.

In a forty-fourth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second and the forty-third embodiment of the first aspect, the nucleic acid molecule comprises a modification, whereby the modification is preferably a high molecular weight moiety and/or whereby the modification preferably allows to modify the characteristics of the nucleic acid molecule in terms of residence time in the animal or human body, preferably the human body.

In a forty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the forty-fourth embodiment of the first aspect, the modification is selected from the group comprising a HES moiety, a PEG moiety, biodegradable modifications and combinations thereof.

In a forty-sixth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the forty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect, the modification is a PEG moiety consisting of a straight or branched PEG, whereby preferably the molecular weight of the straight or branched PEG is from about 20,000 to 120,000 Da, more preferably from about 30,000 to 80,000 Da and most preferably about 40,000 Da.

In a forty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the forty-fifth embodiment of the first aspect, the modification is a HES moiety, whereby preferably the molecular weight of the HES moiety is from about 10,000 to 200,000 Da, more preferably from about 30,000 to 170.000 Da and most preferably about 150,000 Da.

In a forty-eighth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth and the forty-seventh embodiment of the first aspect, the modification is attached to the nucleic acid molecule via a linker, wherein preferably the linker is a biostable or biodegradable linker.

In a forty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh and the forty-eighth embodiment of the first aspect, the modification is attached to the nucleic acid molecule at the 5′-terminal nucleotide of the nucleic acid molecule and/or the 3′-terminal nucleotide of the nucleic acid molecule and/or to a nucleotide of the nucleic acid molecule between the 5′-terminal nucleotide of the nucleic acid molecule and the 3′-terminal nucleotide of the nucleic acid molecule

In a fiftieth embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third, the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh, the forty-eighth and the forty-ninth embodiment of the first aspect, the nucleotides of the nucleic acid molecule or the nucleotides forming the nucleic acid molecule are L-nucleotides.

In a fifty-first embodiment of the first aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third, the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh, the forty-eighth, the forty-ninth and the fiftieth embodiment of the first aspect, the nucleic acid molecule is an L-nucleic acid molecule.

The problem underlying the present invention is solved in a second aspect which is also the first embodiment of the second aspect, by a pharmaceutical composition comprising as a first pharmaceutically active agent the nucleic acid molecule according to any one of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third, the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh, the forty-eighth, the forty-ninth, the fiftieth and the fifty-first embodiment of the first aspect and optionally a further constituent, whereby the further constituent is selected from the group comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a further pharmaceutically active agent, and whereby the pharmaceutical composition is for use in a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, or for use in a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from a disease or disorder or being at risk of developing a disease or a disorder as an adjunct therapy, or for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, whereby the disease or disorder is cancer.

In a second embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the first embodiment of the second aspect, the adjunct therapy sensitizes the subject, wherein the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder.

In a third embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the second embodiment of the second aspect, the therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the diseases or disorder comprises the administration of a further pharmaceutically active agent and/or irradiating the subject and/or surgery and/or cellular therapy.

In a fourth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second and the third embodiment of the second aspect, the further pharmaceutically active agent is a pharmaceutically active agent selected from the group comprising an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, preferably vincristine, a plant terpenoid, a topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone, Flurouracil, and Prednisone.

In a fifth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the second aspect, the antibody is selected from the group comprising Rituximab, Ofatumumab, Cetuximab, Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan, Tositumomab, Trastuzumab, Bevacizumab, and Alemtuzumab.

In a sixth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the second aspect, the alkylating agent is selected from the group comprising cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, doxorubicin, lioposomal doxorubicin, bendamustine, temozolomide and Melphalan.

In a seventh embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the second aspect, the anti-metabolite is selected from the group comprising purineazathioprine, mercaptopurine, fludarabine, pentostatin, and cladribine.

In an eighth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the second aspect, the plant terpenoid is selected from the group comprising a taxane more preferably selected from the group comprising Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin and epothilone.

In a ninth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the second aspect, the topoisomerase inhibitor is selected from the group comprising camptothecin, irinotecan, and mitoxantrone.

In a tenth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth and the ninth embodiment of the second aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of hematological cancer, whereby preferably the hematological cancer is selected from the group of leukemia and myeloma.

In an eleventh embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the tenth embodiment of the second aspect, leukemia is selected from the group comprising chronic lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

In a twelfth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the tenth embodiment of the second aspect, myeloma is multiple myeloma.

In a thirteenth embodiment of the second aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth and the ninth embodiment of the second aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of solid tumors, whereby preferably the solid tumors are selected from the group comprising glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.

The problem underlying the present invention is solved in a third aspect which is also the first embodiment of the third aspect, by a medicament comprising one or several dosage units of at least a first pharmaceutically active agent, wherein the first pharmaceutically active agent is a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to SDF-1 as defined in any one of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third, the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh, the forty-eighth, the forty-ninth, the fiftieth and the fifty-first embodiment of the first aspect, whereby the medicament is for use in a method for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, or for use in a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from a disease or disorder or being at risk of developing a disease or a disorder as an adjunct therapy, or for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder, whereby the disease or disorder is cancer.

In a second embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the first embodiment of the third aspect, the adjunct therapy sensitizes the subject, wherein the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder.

In a third embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the second embodiment of the third aspect, the therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the diseases or disorder comprises the administration of a further pharmaceutically active agent and/or irradiating the subject and/or surgery and/or cellular therapy.

In a fourth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second and the third, preferably the first embodiment of the third aspect, the medicament comprises a further pharmaceutically active agent, preferably one or several dosage units of a further pharmaceutically active agent, whereby the further pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group comprising an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, preferably vincristine, a plant terpenoid, a topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone and Flurouracil.

In a fifth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the third embodiment of the third aspect, the medicament comprises the further pharmaceutically active agent, preferably one or several dosage units of the further pharmaceutically active agent, whereby the further pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group comprising an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, preferably vincristine, a plant terpenoid, a topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone Flurouracil, and Prednisone.

In a sixth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the third aspect, the antibody is selected from the group comprising Rituximab, Ofatumumab, Cetuximab, Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan, Tositumomab, Trastuzumab, Bevacizumab, and Alemtuzumab.

In a seventh embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the third aspect, the alkylating agent is selected from the group comprising cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, doxorubicin, lioposomal doxorubicin, bendamustine, temozolomide and Melphalan.

In an eighth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the third aspect, the anti-metabolite is selected from the group comprising purineazathioprine, mercaptopurine fludarabine, pentostatin, and cladribine.

In a ninth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the third aspect, the plant terpenoid is selected from the group of a taxane, more preferably selected from the group comprising Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin and epothilone.

In a tenth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the third aspect, the topoisomerase inhibitor is selected from the group comprising camptothecin, irinotecan and mitoxantrone.

In an eleventh embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth and the tenth embodiment of the third aspect, wherein the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of hematological cancer, whereby preferably the hematological cancer is selected from the group comprising leukemia and myeloma.

In a twelfth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the eleventh embodiment of the third aspect, leukemia is selected from the group comprising chronic lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

In a thirteenth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the eleventh embodiment of the third aspect, myeloma is multiple myeloma.

In a fourteenth embodiment of the third aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth and the tenth embodiment of the third aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of solid tumors, whereby preferably the solid tumors are selected from the group comprising glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.

The problem underlying the present invention is solved in a fourth aspect which is also the first embodiment of the fourth aspect, by use of a nucleic acid molecule as defined in any one of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty-first, the twenty-second, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third, the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh, the forty-eighth, the forty-ninth, the fiftieth and the fifty-first embodiment of the first aspect, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder or for use in a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from a disease or disorder or being at risk of developing a disease or a disorder as an adjunct therapy, whereby the disease or disorder is cancer.

In a second embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the first embodiment of the fourth aspect, the adjunct therapy sensitizes the subject, wherein the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder.

In a third embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second embodiment of the fourth aspect, the therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the diseases or disorder comprises the administration of a further pharmaceutically active agent and/or irradiating the subject and/or surgery and/or cellular therapy.

In a fourth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second and the third, preferably the first embodiment of the fourth aspect, the medicament is used in combination with a further pharmaceutically active agent, whereby the further pharmaceutically active agent is a pharmaceutically active agent selected from the group comprising an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, preferably vincristine, a plant terpenoid, a topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone, Flurouracil, and Prednisone.

In a fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the third embodiment of the fourth aspect, the further pharmaceutically active agent is a pharmaceutically active agent selected from the group comprising an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, preferably vincristine, a plant terpenoid, a topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone, Flurouracil, and Prednisone.

In a sixth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the antibody is selected from the group comprising Rituximab, Cetuximab, Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan, Tositumomab, Trastuzumab, Bevacizumab, and Alemtuzumab.

In a seventh embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the alkylating agent is selected from the group comprising cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, doxorubicin, lioposomal doxorubicin, bendamustine, temozolomide and Melphalan.

In an eighth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the anti-metabolite is selected from the group comprising purineazathioprine, mercaptopurine fludarabine, pentostatin, and cladribine.

In a ninth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the plant terpenoid is selected from the group comprising a taxane, more preferably selected from the group of Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin and epothilone.

In a tenth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the topoisomerase inhibitor is selected from the group comprising camptothecin, irinotecan, and mitoxantrone.

In an eleventh embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of hematological cancer, whereby preferably the hematological cancer is selected from the group comprising leukemia and myeloma.

In a twelfth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the eleventh embodiment of the fourth aspect, leukemia is selected from the group comprising chronic lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

In a thirteenth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the eleventh embodiment of the fourth aspect, myeloma is multiple myeloma.

In a fourteenth embodiment of the fourth aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth and the tenth embodiment of the fourth aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of solid tumors, whereby preferably the solid tumors are selected from the group comprising glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.

The problem underlying the present invention is solved in a fifth aspect which is also the first embodiment of the fifth aspect, by a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from or being at risk of developing cancer, whereby the method comprises

-   -   a step a) of administering to the subject a pharmaceutically         effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding         to SDF-1 as defined in any one of the first, the second, the         third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the         eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the         thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the         seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the         twenty first, the twenty second, the twenty third, the twenty         fourth, the twenty fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty seventh,         the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the         thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the         thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the         thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the         fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third,         the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the         forty-seventh, the forty-eighth, the forty-ninth, the fiftieth         and the fifty-first embodiment of the first aspect.

In a second embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the first embodiment of the fifth aspect, the method comprises

-   -   a step b) of irradiating the subject and/or surgery and/or         cellular therapy and/or administering a pharmaceutically         effective amount of a further pharmaceutically active agent to         the subject, whereby the further pharmaceutically active agent         is a pharmaceutically active agent selected from the group         comprising an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite,         a plant alkaloid, preferably vincristine, a plant terpenoid, a         topoisomerase inhibitor, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen,         Sorafenib, Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone, Flurouracil,         and Prednisone.

In a third embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second embodiment of the fifth aspect, the pharmaceutically effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to SDF-1 as defined in any one of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, the tenth, the eleventh, the twelfth, the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, the sixteenth, the seventeenth, the eighteenth, the nineteenth, the twentieth, the twenty first, the twenty second, the twenty third, the twenty fourth, the twenty fifth, the twenty-sixth, the twenty seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth, the thirtieth, the thirty-first, the thirty-second, the thirty-third, the thirty-fourth, the thirty-fifth, the thirty-sixth, the thirty-seventh, the thirty-eighth, the thirty-ninth, the fortieth, the forty-first, the forty-second, the forty-third, the forty-fourth, the forty-fifth, the forty-sixth, the forty-seventh, the forty-eighth, the forty-ninth, the fiftieth and the fifty-first embodiment of the first aspect is administered as an adjunct therapy or part of an adjunct therapy.

In a fourth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the third embodiment of the fifth aspect, the adjunct therapy sensitizes the subject, wherein the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder.

In a fifth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder comprises the administration of a further pharmaceutically active agent and/or irradiating the subject and/or surgery and/or cellular therapy as performed in step b).

In a sixth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the antibody is selected from the group comprising Rituximab, Cetuximab, Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan, Tositumomab, Trastuzumab, Bevacizumab, and Alemtuzumab.

In a seventh embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the alkylating agent is selected from the group comprising cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, doxorubicin, lioposomal doxorubicin, bendamustine, temozolomide and Melphalan.

In an eighth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the anti-metabolite is selected from the group comprising purineazathioprine, mercaptopurine, fludarabine, pentostatin, and cladribine.

In a ninth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the plant terpenoid is selected from the group comprising taxanes, more preferably selected from the group of Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin and epothilone.

In a tenth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the topoisomerase inhibitor is selected from the group comprising camptothecin, irinotecan, and mitoxantrone.

In an eleventh embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth and the tenth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of hematological cancer, whereby preferably the hematological cancer is selected from the group comprising leukemia and myeloma.

In a twelfth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the eleventh embodiment of the fifth aspect, leukemia is selected from the group comprising chronic lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

In a thirteenth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the eleventh and the twelfth embodiment of the fifth aspect, myeloma is multiple myeloma.

In a fourteenth embodiment of the fifth aspect which is also an embodiment of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth and the tenth embodiment of the fifth aspect, the cancer is a cancer selected from the group of solid tumors, whereby preferably the solid tumors are selected from the group comprising glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.

While not wishing to be bound by any theory, the present inventors have found that the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention inhibit the binding of SDF-1 to its SDF-1 receptors and thus, either directly or indirectly, are used for the treatment of cancer. Furthermore, the instant inventors have found that the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention are suitable to block the interaction of SDF-1 with the SDF-1 receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7, respectively. Insofar, the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention can also be viewed as antagonists of CXCR4 and CXCR7, respectively.

As to the various diseases, conditions and disorders which may be treated or prevented by using the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention or compositions, preferably pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, it has to be acknowledged that such diseases, conditions and disorders are those which are described herein, including and in particular those described and set forth in the introductory part of the instant application. Insofar, the respective passages form an integral part of the present disclosure teaching the suitability of the nucleic acid molecules for the prevention and treatment, respectively, for said diseases, conditions, and disorders.

As used herein the term SDF-1 refers to any SDF-1 including, but not limited to, mammalian SDF-1. Preferably, the mammalian SDF-1 is selected from the group comprising mice, rat, rabbit, hamster, monkey and human SDF-1. More preferably the SDF-1 is human SDF-1 also referred to as SDF-1α (SEQ ID NO: 1) and/or human SDF-1β (SEQ ID NO: 2), most preferably human SDF-1 also referred to as SDF-la (SEQ ID NO: 1)

SDF-1 acts through two different receptors, the receptors CXCR4 and RDC1/CXCR7 (Balabanian, Lagane et al. 2005a, Burns, Summers et al. 2006) (see the introductory part of the instant application). Elevated expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 was shown for several cancer types as described herein.

Because SDF-1 acts through two different receptors, a treatment of an SDF-1 related disease or disorder by a compound specific for one out of the two SDF-1 receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7:

-   -   a) should be less effective due to the two different SDF-1         receptors expressed on cells, preferably cancer cells;     -   b) is limited to a distinct population of cells, preferably to a         distinct population of cancer cells, due to the individual SDF-1         receptors expressed on the cells.

Cancer is a term for malignant neoplasms, a great and heterogeneous group of diseases in which cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion and often metastasizes, wherein the cancer cells spread to other locations in the body, to regional lymph nodes or distant body sites like brain, bone, liver, or other organs. These three malignant properties of cancer differentiate malignant tumors from benign tumors, whereby, as used herein, the term cancer shall also encompass malignant tumors which in turn are also referred to herein as tumors. Malignant tumors fall into two categories based on their origin: Hematological and solid tumors. Hematological tumors are cancer types affecting blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Solid tumors are formed by an abnormal growth of body tissue cells other than blood, bone marrow or lymphatic cells.

Preferred forms of cancer are the following ones:

Adrenocortical Carcinoma

AIDS-Related Cancers such as Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoma

Anal Cancer Appendix Cancer Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Basal Cell Carcinoma Bile Duct Cancer, Extrahepatic Bladder Cancer Bone Cancer Osteosarcoma Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma Brain Stem Glioma

Brain Tumor such as Astrocytomas, Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors, Brain Stem Glioma, Childhood, Central Nervous System Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors, Craniopharyngioma, Ependymoblastoma, Ependymoma, Medulloblastoma, Medulloepithelioma, Pineal Parenchymal Tumors of Intermediate Differentiation, Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors and Pineoblastoma

Breast Cancer Bronchial Tumors Carcinoid Tumor Carcinoma of Unknown Primary

Cancer of Central Nervous System such as Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor and Lymphoma

Cervical Cancer Childhood Cancers Chordoma Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders Colon Cancer Colorectal Cancer Craniopharyngioma Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Embryonal Tumors Endometrial Cancer Ependymoblastoma Ependymoma, Esophageal Cancer Esthesioneuroblastoma Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

Eye Cancer such as Intraocular Melanoma and Retinoblastoma

Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone Osteosarcoma Gallbladder Cancer Gastric (Stomach) Cancer Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)

Germ Cell Tumor (extracranial, extragonadal or ovarian)

Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor Glioma Hairy Cell Leukemia Head and Neck Cancer Heart Cancer Hepatocellular (Liver) Cancer Histiocytosis Hypopharyngeal Cancer Intraocular Melanoma Islet Cell Tumors (Endocrine Pancreas) Kaposi Sarcoma Kidney Cancer Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Laryngeal Cancer

Leukemia such Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (abbr. ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (abbr. AML), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (abbr. CLL), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (abbr. CML) and Hairy Cell Leukemia

Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Liver Cancer (Primary) Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS) Lung Cancer

Lymphoma such as AIDS-Related Lymphoma, Burkitt, Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome, Hodgkin, Non-Hodgkin and leukemia of Primary Central Nervous System (abbr. CNS)

Macroglobulinemia Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone and Osteosarcoma Medulloblastoma Medulloepithelioma Melanoma Merkel Cell Carcinoma Mesothelioma

Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary

Midline Tract Carcinoma Involving NUT Gene Mouth Cancer Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes Multiple Myeloma Mycosis Fungoides Myelodysplastic Syndromes Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Myeloproliferative Disorders Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer Nasopharyngeal Cancer Neuroblastoma Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Oral Cancer Oral Cavity Cancer Oropharyngeal Cancer Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone Ovarian Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Papillomatosis Paraganglioma Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer Parathyroid Cancer Penile Cancer Pharyngeal Cancer Pheochromocytoma Pineal Parenchymal Tumors of Intermediate Differentiation Pineoblastoma and Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors Pituitary Tumor Plasma Cell Neoplasm/Multiple Myeloma Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Childhood

Primary Central Nervous System (abbr CNS) Lymphoma

Prostate Cancer Rectal Cancer Renal Cell (Kidney) Cancer Renal Pelvis and Ureter, Transitional Cell Cancer Retinoblastoma Rhabdomyosarcoma Salivary Gland Cancer

Sarcoma such as Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors, Kaposi Sarcoma, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Uterine Sarcoma Skin Cancer such Melanoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Nonmelanoma

Small Cell Lung Cancer Small Intestine Cancer Soft Tissue Sarcoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma Squamous Neck Cancer Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors T-Cell Lymphoma Testicular Cancer Throat Cancer Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Thyroid Cancer Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter Trophoblastic Tumor, Gestational Ureter and Renal Pelvis, Transitional Cell Cancer Urethral Cancer Uterine Cancer, Endometrial Uterine Sarcoma Vaginal Cancer Vulvar Cancer Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Wilms Tumor

The SDF-1-CXCR4 axis has been shown to play a role in stem cell mobilization including cancer stem cells, vasculogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. The SDF-1 receptor CXCR4 is expressed in a variety of cancers and hematological malignancies in vivo as is CXCR7 (Maksym, Tarnowski et al., 2009; Wang, Shiosawa et al., 2008; Miao, Lucker et al., 2007). The growth and invasion signal for tumor cells is SDF-1, in particular if the cells express the receptors for SDF-1 (Batchelor et al., 2007; Zhu et al., 2009; Xu et al., 2009; Kozin et al., 2010).

CXCR4 as well as SDF-1 are induced by hypoxia (Ceradini et al. 2004). Together with VEGF they represent a potent synergistic axis that initiates and maintains angiogenic/vascologenic pathways (Kryczek et al. 2005). The role in vasculogenesis is supported by evidence that SDF-1 attracts CXCR4 expressing endothelial progenitor cells from the circulation (Sengupta et al. 2005). SDF-1-CXCR4 mediated recruitment of bone marrow derived cells that support vascularization may also be the reason for recurrence of glioblastoma after irradiation therapy (Kioi et al., 2010). As demonstrated by Kioi et al. in an intracranial glioblastoma multiforme (abbr. GBM) mouse xenograft model the treatment of GBM patients with high doses of radiation is less effective due to irradiation induced recruitment of bone-marrow derived cells (abbr. BMDCs). The blockade of the interaction of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 by the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 prevented the influx of BMDCs in the irradiated tumor (Kioi et al., 2010). In 2010 Tseng et al. presented data with an ENU induced glioblastoma rat model, a model that closely mimics human GBM, that besides CXCR4 also CXCR7 is involved in irradiation induced recruitment of BMDCs. In this study the CXCR7 antagonist CCX2206 prevented the influx of BMDCs in the irradiated tumor (Tseng et al., 2010). In accordance thereof and because the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention are able to block the interation of both SDF-1 and CXCR4 and SDF-1 and CXCR7 the effect on survival after irradiation is expected to be better than shown for the use of one of the CXCR4 and CXCR7 antagonist alone.

In addition, SDF-1 induces VEGF secretion, while VEGF increases CXCR4 expression (Salcedo et al. 1999) and angiogenesis signals. Therefore inhibition of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis may reduce or prevent tumor growth by inhibition of angiogenesis/vasculogenesis either with monotherapy or particularly in combination with other antivascular agents such as VEGF inhibitors.

Furthermore it is suggested that ‘homing’ of CXCR4 expressing cancer cells to SDF-1-expressing organs directs metastatic cells preferentially to the liver, bone marrow, lung and lymph nodes (Alsayed et al. 2007; Burger & Peled 2009) and therefore the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis plays a role in metastasis.

Hence, the inhibition of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and the SDF-1-CXCR7 axis with only one compound such as the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention should be effective in treating cancer and/or tumors, in particular a wide range of both haematological and solid tumors either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments such as, but not limited to, drug therapy, cellular therapy, irradiation and surgery. Moreover, in comparison to a compound that binds and inhibits one out of the two SDF-1 receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7, the inhibition of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and the SDF-1-CXCR7 axis with only one compound such as the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention should be more effective in treating cancer and/or tumors, in particular a wide range of both haematological and solid tumors either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments such as but not limited to drug therapy, cellular therapy, irradiation and surgery.

It is within the present invention that drug therapy comprises the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or disorder by a drug, preferably a pharmaceutically active agent, more preferably a pharmaceutically active agent as defined herein.

As preferably used herein, in cell therapy also referred to as cellular therapy, processed tissue from the organs, embryos, or fetuses of animals such as sheep or cows is injected into a subject suffering from or being at risk of developing a disease or disorder, whereby preferably the disease or disorder is cancer and cell therapy a form of cancer treatment.

In theory, non-hematological cancers can be cured if entirely removed by surgery. When the cancer has metastasized to other sites in the body prior to surgery, complete surgical excision is usually impossible. Examples of surgical procedures or surgery for cancer include mastectomy for breast cancer, prostatectomy for prostate cancer, and lung cancer surgery for non-small cell lung cancer. The goal of the surgery can be either the removal of only the tumor, or of the entire organ. Surgery is often combined with other cancer treatments or therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Cancer surgery may be used to achieve one or more goals. Such goals may include, but are not limited to, cancer prevention, diagnosis, staging, primary treatment, debulking and relieving symptoms or side effects.

Radiotherapy (also referred to X-ray therapy or irradiation) is the use of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy is used in the medical art to treat almost every type of solid tumor. Irradiation is also used to treat leukemia and lymphoma. Radiotherapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow and divide. The effects of radiotherapy are localized and confined to the region being treated. Radiation dose to each site depends on a number of factors, including the radiosensitivity of each cancer type and whether there are tissues and organs nearby that may be damaged by radiation. The goal of radiotherapy is to damage as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby healthy tissue.

Additionally, an SDF-1 binding nucleic molecule according to the present invention is preferred if the physiological effect of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and/or SDF-1-CXCR7 axis is related to higher plasma levels of SDF-1. For instance, particular therapeutic agents such as paclitaxel and bevacizumab produce an elevation of plasma SDF-1 levels which can have a negative effect on tumor therapy by releasing more bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells or by stimulating growth, invasiveness or metastasis (Shaked, Henke et al., 2008; Xu, Duda et al., 2009). In this case the co-application of an SDF-1 binding nucleic acid will ameliorate the effects of elevated plasma SDF-1 levels.

Moreover, the inhibition of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and/or SDF-1-CXCR7 axis by an SDF-1 binding nucleic molecule according to the present invention will enhance the anti-tumor effects of other therapeutic agents by disrupting the adhesive stromal interactions with leukemia and other cancer cells that confer survival and drug resistance to these therapies (Jin et al. 2008; Nervi et al. 2009). Such use of SDF-1 binding nucleic molecule is known as a process known as chemosensitization.

The sensitization of tumor cells to chemotherapy or radiotherapy is known as ‘chemosensitization’ or ‘radiosensitization’, respectively. Such ‘chemosensitization’ or ‘radiosensitization’, preferably by the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention, sensitizes the subject suffering from a disease or disorder, whereby the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment and/or prevention of the disease or disorder, whereby preferably the disease or the disorder is cancer. Such treatment used together with a primary treatment, preferably a cancer treatment, is an adjunct therapy according to the present invention and also referred to as adjunctive therapy. The purpose of such adjunct therapy is to assist a primary treatment, preferably a primary cancer treatment. Hence, the inhibition of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and/or SDF-1-CXCR7 axis will be particularly effective in treating a wide range of both haematological and solid tumors either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments such as but not limited to drug therapy, cellular therapy, irradiation and surgery.

By these means and in view of the outlined involvement of SDF-1 and SDF-1 receptors—such as CXCR4 and CXCR7—, the SDF-1 binding and the interaction between SDF-1 and SDF-1 receptor inhibiting nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention can help to attenuate such diseases, whereby inhibition of SDF-1 by the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention leads to chemosensitization of malignant cells to be treated by chemotherapy, reduction or inhibition of growth and invasiveness, inhibition of angiogenesis/vasculogenesis, inhibition of metastasis and/or inhibition of elevated plasma SDF-1 levels derived from the response of the host to chemotherapy.

Moreover, the present invention is based on the surprising finding that it is possible to generate nucleic acid molecules binding specifically and with high affinity to SDF-1, thereby inhibiting and antagonizing the effects of SDF-1, in particular the effects of SDF-1 on its receptors such as CXCR4 and CXCR7.

An antagonists to SDF-1 is a molecule that binds to SDF-1—such as the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention—and inhibits the function of SDF-1, preferably in an in vitro assay or in an in vivo model as described in the Examples.

It is within the present invention that the nucleic acid according to the present invention is a nucleic acid molecule. Insofar the terms nucleic acid and nucleic acid molecule are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary. Moreover, such nucleic acids are preferably also referred to herein as the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention, the nucleic acids according to the present invention, the inventive nucleic acids or the inventive nucleic acid molecules.

The features of the nucleic acid according to the present invention as described herein can be realised in any aspect of the present invention where the nucleic acid is used, either alone or in any combination.

As outlined in more detail herein, the present inventors have identified a number of different SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules, whereby the nucleic acid molecules can be characterised in terms of stretches of nucleotides which are also referred to herein as Boxes (see Example 1). As experimentally shown in examples 5 to 11 the inventors could surprisingly demonstrate in several systems that SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules are suitable for the treatment of cancer and actually capable of treating cancer.

The different types of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules comprise three different stretches of nucleotides: the first terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides and second terminal stretch of nucleotides. In general, SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of the present invention comprise at their 5′-end and the 3′-end the terminal stretches of nucleotides: the first terminal stretch of nucleotides and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides (also referred to as 5′-terminal stretch of nucleotides and 3′-terminal stretch of nucleotides). The first terminal stretch of nucleotides and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides can, in principle due to their base complementarity, hybridize to each other, whereby upon hybridization a double-stranded structure is formed. However, such hybridization is not necessarily realized in the molecule under physiological and/or non-physiological conditions. The three stretches of nucleotides of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules—the first terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides and second terminal stretch of nucleotides—are arranged to each other in 5′→3′-direction: the first terminal stretch of nucleotides-the central stretch of nucleotides-the second terminal stretch of nucleotides. However, alternatively, the second terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides and the terminal first stretch of nucleotides are arranged to each other in 5′→3′-direction.

The differences in the sequences of the defined boxes or stretches between the different SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules influence the binding affinity to SDF-1. Based on binding analysis of the different SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of the present invention the central stretch and the nucleotides forming the same are individually and more preferably in their entirety essential for binding to human SDF-1.

The terms ‘stretch’ and ‘stretch of nucleotide’ are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary.

In a preferred embodiment the nucleic acid according to the present invention is a single nucleic acid molecule. In a further embodiment, the single nucleic acid molecule is present as a multitude of the single nucleic acid molecule or as a multitude of the single nucleic acid molecule species.

It will be acknowledged by the ones skilled in the art that the nucleic acid molecule in accordance with the invention preferably consists of nucleotides which are covalently linked to each other, preferably through phosphodiester links or linkages.

It is within the present invention that the nucleic acids according to the present invention comprise two or more stretches or part(s) thereof can, in principle, hybridise with each other. Upon such hybridisation a double-stranded structure is formed. It will be acknowledged by the ones skilled in the art that such hybridisation may or may not occur, particularly under in vitro and/or in vivo conditions. Also, in case of such hybridisation, it is not necessarily the case that the hybridisation occurs over the entire length of the two stretches where, at least based on the rules for base pairing, such hybridisation and thus formation of a double-stranded structure may, in principle, occur. As preferably used herein, a double-stranded structure is a part of a nucleic acid molecule or a structure formed by two or more separate strands or two spatially separated stretches of a single strand of a nucleic acid molecule, whereby at least one, preferably two or more base pairs exist which are base pairing preferably in accordance with the Watson-Crick base pairing rules. It will also be acknowledged by the one skilled in the art that other base pairing such as Hoogsten base pairing may exist in or form such double-stranded structure. It is also to be acknowledged that the feature that two stretches hybridize preferably indicates that such hybridization is assumed to happen due to base complementarity of the two stretches.

In a preferred embodiment the term arrangement as used herein, means the order or sequence of structural or functional features or elements described herein in connection with the nucleic acids disclosed herein.

It will be acknowledged by the person skilled in the art that the nucleic acids according to the present invention are capable of binding to SDF-1. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the present inventors assume that the SDF-1 binding results from a combination of three-dimensional structural traits or elements of the claimed nucleic acid molecule, which are caused by orientation and folding patterns of the primary sequence of nucleotides forming such traits or elements, whereby preferably such traits or elements are the first terminal stretch of nucleotides, the central stretch of nucleotides and the second terminal stretch of nucleotides of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules. It is evident that the individual trait or element may be formed by various different individual sequences the degree of variation of which may vary depending on the three-dimensional structure such element or trait has to form. The overall binding characteristic of the claimed nucleic acid results from the interplay of the various elements and traits, respectively, which ultimately results in the interaction of the claimed nucleic acid with its target, i.e. SDF-1. Again without being wished to be bound by any theory, the central stretch of nucleotides that is characteristic for SDF-1 binding nucleic acids seems to be important for mediating the binding of the claimed nucleic acid molecules with SDF-1. Accordingly, the nucleic acids according to the present invention are suitable for the interaction with SDF-1. Also, it will be acknowledged by the person skilled in the art that the nucleic acids according to the present invention are antagonists to SDF-1. Because of this the nucleic acids according to the present invention are suitable for the treatment and prevention, respectively, of any disease or condition which is associated with or caused by SDF-1. Such diseases and conditions may be taken from the prior art which establishes that SDF-1 is involved or associated with said diseases and conditions, respectively, and which is incorporated herein by reference providing the scientific rationale for the therapeutic use of the nucleic acids according to the invention.

The nucleic acids according to the present invention shall also comprise nucleic acids which are essentially homologous to the particular sequences disclosed herein. The term substantially homologous shall be understood such as the homology is at least 75%, preferably 85%, more preferably 90% and most preferably more that 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%.

The actual percentage of homologous nucleotides present in the nucleic acid according to the present invention will depend on the total number of nucleotides present in the nucleic acid. The percent modification can be based upon the total number of nucleotides present in the nucleic acid.

The homology between two nucleic acid molecules can be determined as known to the person skilled in the art. More specifically, a sequence comparison algorithm may be used for calculating the percent sequence homology for the test sequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the designated program parameters. The test sequence is preferably the sequence or nucleic acid molecule which is said to be homologous or to be tested whether it is homologous, and if so, to what extent, to a different nucleic acid molecule, whereby such different nucleic acid molecule is also referred to as the reference sequence. In an embodiment, the reference sequence is a nucleic acid molecule as described herein, preferably a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NO: 5 to SEQ ID NO: 225, more preferably a nucleic acid molecule having a sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 120, SEQ ID NO: 128, SEQ ID NO: 129, SEQ ID NO: 134, SEQ ID NO: 135, SEQ ID NO: 223, SEQ ID NO: 224, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 146, SEQ ID NO: 142, SEQ ID NO: 143, and SEQ ID NO: 144. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman (Smith & Waterman, 1981) by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch (Needleman & Wunsch, 1970) by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman (Pearson & Lipman, 1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by visual inspection.

One example of an algorithm that is suitable for determining percent sequence identity is the algorithm used in the basic local alignment search tool (hereinafter “BLAST”), see, e.g. Altschul et al (Altschul et al. 1990 and Altschul et al, 1997). Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (hereinafter “NCBI”). The default parameters used in determining sequence identity using the software available from NCBI, e.g., BLASTN (for nucleotide sequences) and BLASTP (for amino acid sequences) are described in McGinnis et al (McGinnis et al, 2004).

The nucleic acids according to the present invention shall also comprise nucleic acids which have a certain degree of identity relative to the nucleic acids disclosed herein and defined by their nucleotide sequence. More preferably, the instant invention also comprises those nucleic acid molecules which have an identity of at least 75%, preferably 85%, more preferably 90% and most preferably more than 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% relative to the nucleic acids disclosed herein and defined by their nucleotide sequence or a part thereof.

The term inventive nucleic acid or nucleic acid according to the present invention shall also comprise those nucleic acids comprising the nucleic acids sequences disclosed herein or part thereof, such as, e.g., a metabolite or derivative of the nucleic acid according to the present invention, preferably to the extent that the nucleic acids or said parts are involved in the or capable of binding to SDF-1. Such a nucleic acid may be derived from the ones disclosed herein, e.g., by truncation. Truncation may be related to either or both of the ends of the nucleic acids as disclosed herein. Also, truncation may be related to the inner sequence of nucleotides, i.e. it may be related to the nucleotide(s) between the 5′ and the 3′ terminal nucleotide, respectively. Moreover, truncation shall comprise the deletion of as little as a single nucleotide from the sequence of the nucleic acids disclosed herein. Truncation may also be related to more than one stretch of the inventive nucleic acid(s), whereby the stretch can be as little as one nucleotide long. The binding of a nucleic acid according to the present invention can be determined by the ones skilled in the art using routine experiments or by using or adopting a method as described herein, preferably as described herein in the example part.

The nucleic acids according to the present invention may be either D-nucleic acids or L-nucleic acids. Preferably, the inventive nucleic acids are L-nucleic acids. In addition it is possible that one or several parts of the nucleic acid are present as D-nucleic acids or at least one or several parts of the nucleic acids are L-nucleic acids. The term “part” of the nucleic acids shall mean as little as one nucleotide. Such nucleic acids are generally referred to herein as D- and L-nucleic acids, respectively. Therefore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the nucleic acids according to the present invention consist of L-nucleotides and comprise at least one D-nucleotide. Such D-nucleotide is preferably attached to a part different from the stretches defining the nucleic acids according to the present invention, preferably those parts thereof, where an interaction with other parts of the nucleic acid is involved. Preferably, such D-nucleotide is attached at a terminus of any of the stretches and of any nucleic acid according to the present invention, respectively. In a further preferred embodiment, such D-nucleotides may act as a spacer or a linker, preferably attaching modifications such as PEG and HES to the nucleic acids according to the present invention.

It is also within the present invention that each and any of the nucleic acid molecules described herein in their entirety in terms of their nucleic acid sequence(s) are limited to the particular nucleotide sequence(s). In other words, the terms “comprising” or “comprise(s)” shall be interpreted in such embodiment in the meaning of containing or consisting of.

It is also within the present invention that the nucleic acids according to the present invention are part of a longer nucleic acid whereby this longer nucleic acid comprises several parts whereby at least one such part is a nucleic acid, or a part thereof, according to the present invention. The other part(s) of these longer nucleic acids can be either one or several D-nucleic acid(s) or L-nucleic acid(s). Any combination may be used in connection with the present invention. These other part(s) of the longer nucleic acid can exhibit a function which is different from binding, preferably from binding to SDF-1. One possible function is to allow interaction with other molecules, whereby such other molecules preferably are different from SDF-1, such as, e.g., for immobilization, cross-linking, detection or amplification. In a further embodiment of the present invention the nucleic acids according to the invention comprise, as individual or combined moieties, several of the nucleic acids of the present invention. Such nucleic acid comprising several of the nucleic acids of the present invention is also encompassed by the term longer nucleic acid.

L-nucleic acids as used herein are nucleic acids consisting of L-nucleotides, preferably consisting completely of L-nucleotides.

D-nucleic acids as used herein are nucleic acids consisting of D-nucleotides, preferably consisting completely of D-nucleotides.

The terms nucleic acid and nucleic acid molecule are used herein in an interchangeable manner if not explicitly indicated to the contrary.

Also, if not indicated to the contrary, any nucleotide sequence is set forth herein in 5′→3′ direction.

As preferably used herein any position of a nucleotide is determined or referred to relative to the 5′ end of a sequence, a stretch or a substretch. Accordingly, a second nucleotide is the second nucleotide counted from the 5′ end of the sequence, stretch and substretch, respectively. Also, in accordance therewith, a penultimate nucleotide is the second nucleotide counted from the 3′ end of a sequence, stretch and substretch, respectively.

Irrespective of whether the inventive nucleic acid consists of D-nucleotides, L-nucleotides or a combination of both with the combination being e.g. a random combination or a defined sequence of stretches consisting of at least one L-nucleotide and at least one D-nucleic acid, the nucleic acid may consist of desoxyribonucleotide(s), ribonucleotide(s) or combinations thereof.

Designing the inventive nucleic acids as L-nucleic acid is advantageous for several reasons. L-nucleic acids are enantiomers of naturally occurring nucleic acids. D-nucleic acids, however, are not very stable in aqueous solutions and particularly in biological systems or biological samples due to the widespread presence of nucleases. Naturally occurring nucleases, particularly nucleases from animal cells are not capable of degrading L-nucleic acids. Because of this the biological half-life of the L-nucleic acid is significantly increased in such a system, including the animal and human body. Due to the lacking degradability of L-nucleic acid no nuclease degradation products are generated and thus no side effects arising therefrom observed. This aspect delimits the L-nucleic acid of factually all other compounds which are used in the therapy of diseases and/or disorders involving the presence of SDF-1. L-nucleic acids which specifically bind to a target molecule through a mechanism different from Watson Crick base pairing, or aptamers which consists partially or completely of L-nucleotides, particularly with those parts of the aptamer being involved in the binding of the aptamer to the target molecule, are also called spiegelmers. Aptamers and spiegelmers as such are known to a person skilled in the art and are, among others, described in ‘The Aptamer Handbook’ (eds. Klussmann, 2006).

It is also within the present invention that the inventive nucleic acids, regardless whether they are present as D-nucleic acids, L-nucleic acids or D,L-nucleic acids or whether they are DNA or RNA, may be present as single stranded or double stranded nucleic acids. Typically, the inventive nucleic acids are single stranded nucleic acids which exhibit defined secondary structures due to the primary sequence and may thus also form tertiary structures. The inventive nucleic acids, however, may also be double stranded in the meaning that two strands which are complementary or partially complementary to each other are hybridised to each other.

The inventive nucleic acids may be modified. Such modifications may be related to the single nucleotide of the nucleic acid and are well known in the art. Examples for such modification are described by, among others, Venkatesan et al. (Venkatesan, Kim et al. 2003) and Kusser (Kusser 2000). Such modification can be a H atom, a F atom or O—CH₃ group or NH₂-group at the 2′ position of the individual nucleotide of which the nucleic acid consists. Also, the nucleic acid according to the present invention can comprises at least one LNA nucleotide. In an embodiment the nucleic acid according to the present invention consists of LNA nucleotides.

In an embodiment, the nucleic acids according to the present invention may be a multipartite nucleic acid. A multipartite nucleic acid as used herein, is a nucleic acid which consists of at least two separate nucleic acid strands. These at least two nucleic acid strands form a functional unit whereby the functional unit is a ligand to a target molecule. The at least two nucleic acid strands may be derived from any of the inventive nucleic acids by either cleaving the nucleic acid molecule to generate two strands or by synthesising one nucleic acid corresponding to a first part of the inventive, i.e. overall nucleic acid and another nucleic acid corresponding to the second part of the overall nucleic acid. It is to be acknowledged that both the cleavage and the synthesis may be applied to generate a multipartite nucleic acid where there are more than two strands as exemplified above. In other words, the at least two separate nucleic acid strands are typically different from two strands being complementary and hybridising to each other although a certain extent of complementarity between said at least two separate nucleic acid strands may exist and whereby such complementarity may result in the hybridisation of said separate strands.

Finally it is also within the present invention that a fully closed, i.e. circular structure for the nucleic acids according to the present invention is realized, i.e. that the nucleic acids according to the present invention are closed in an embodiment, preferably through a covalent linkage, whereby more preferably such covalent linkage is made between the 5′ end and the 3′ end of the nucleic acid sequences as disclosed herein or any derivative thereof.

A possibility to determine the binding constants of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention is the use of the methods as described in example 3 and 4 which confirms the above finding that the nucleic acids according to the present invention exhibit a favourable K_(D) value range. An appropriate measure in order to express the intensity of the binding between the individual nucleic acid molecule and the target which is in the present case SDF-1 is the so-called K_(D) value which as such as well the method for its determination are known to the one skilled in the art.

Preferably, the K_(D) value shown by the nucleic acids according to the present invention is below 1 μM. A K_(D) value of about 1 μM is said to be characteristic for a non-specific binding of a nucleic acid to a target. As will be acknowledged by the ones skilled in the art, the K_(D) value of a group of compounds such as the nucleic acids according to the present invention is within a certain range. The above-mentioned K_(D) of about 1 μM is a preferred upper limit for the K_(D) value. The lower limit for the K_(D) of target binding nucleic acids can be as little as about 10 picomolar or can be higher. It is within the present invention that the K_(D) values of individual nucleic acids binding to SDF-1 is preferably within this range. Preferred ranges can be defined by choosing any first number within this range and any second number within this range. Preferred upper K_(D) values are 250 nM and 100 nM, preferred lower K_(D) values are 50 nM, 10 nM, 1 nM, 100 pM and 10 pM. The more preferred upper K_(D) value is 2.5 nM, the more preferred lower K_(D) value is 100 pM.

In addition to the binding properties of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention, the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention inhibit the function of the respective target molecule which is in the present case SDF-1. The inhibition of the function of SDF-1—for instance the stimulation of the respective receptors as described previously—is achieved by binding of nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention to SDF-1 and forming a complex of a nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention and MCP-1 and SDF-1. Such complex of a nucleic acid molecule and SDF-1 cannot stimulate the receptors that normally are stimulated by SDF-1. Accordingly, the inhibition of receptor function by nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention is independent from the respective receptor that can be stimulated by SDF-1 but results from preventing the stimulation of the receptor by MCP-1 and SDF-1 by the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention.

A possibility to determine the inhibitory constant of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention is the use of the methods as described in example 5 and 6 (for the CXCR4 and CXCR7, respectively) which confirms the above finding that the nucleic acids according to the present invention exhibit a favourable inhibitory constant which allows the use of said nucleic acids in a therapeutic treatment scheme. An appropriate measure in order to express the intensity of the inhibitory effect of the individual nucleic acid molecule on interaction of the target which is in the present case SDF-1 and the respective receptor, is the so-called half maximal inhibitory concentration (abbr. IC₅₀) which as such as well the method for its determination are known to the one skilled in the art.

Preferably, the IC₅₀ value shown by the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention is below 1 μM. An IC₅₀ value of about 1 μM is said to be characteristic for a non-specific inhibition of target functions by a nucleic acid molecule. As will be acknowledged by the ones skilled in the art, the IC₅₀ value of a group of compounds such as the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention is within a certain range. The above-mentioned IC₅₀ of about 1 μM is a preferred upper limit for the IC₅₀ value. The lower limit for the IC₅₀ of target binding nucleic acid molecules can be as little as about 10 picomolar or can be higher. It is within the present invention that the IC₅₀ values of individual nucleic acids binding to SDF-1 is preferably within this range. Preferred ranges can be defined by choosing any first number within this range and any second number within this range. Preferred upper IC₅₀ values are 250 nM and 100 nM, preferred lower IC₅₀ values are 50 nM, 10 nM, 1 nM, 100 pM and 10 pM. The more preferred upper IC₅₀ value is 2.5 nM, the more preferred lower IC₅₀ value is 100 pM.

The nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention may have any length provided that they are still able to bind to the target molecule. It will be acknowledged in the art that there are preferred lengths of the nucleic acids according to the present inventions. Typically, the length is between 15 and 120 nucleotides. It will be acknowledged by the ones skilled in the art that any integer between 15 and 120 is a possible length for the nucleic acids according to the present invention. More preferred ranges for the length of the nucleic acids according to the present invention are lengths of about 20 to 100 nucleotides, about 20 to 80 nucleotides, about 20 to 60 nucleotides, about 20 to 50 nucleotides and about 29 to 450 nucleotides.

It is within the present invention that the nucleic acids disclosed herein comprise a moiety which preferably is a high molecular weight moiety and/or which preferably allows to modify the characteristics of the nucleic acid in terms of, among others, residence time in the animal body, preferably the human body. A particularly preferred embodiment of such modification is PEGylation and HESylation of the nucleic acids according to the present invention. As used herein PEG stands for poly(ethylene glycole) and HES for hydroxyethyl starch. PEGylation as preferably used herein is the modification of a nucleic acid according to the present invention whereby such modification consists of a PEG moiety which is attached to a nucleic acid according to the present invention. HESylation as preferably used herein is the modification of a nucleic acid according to the present invention whereby such modification consists of a HES moiety which is attached to a nucleic acid according to the present invention. These modifications as well as the process of modifying a nucleic acid using such modifications, is described in European patent application EP 1 306 382, the disclosure of which is herewith incorporated in its entirety by reference.

In the case of PEG being such high molecular weight moiety the molecular weight is preferably about 20,000 to about 120,000 Da, more preferably from about 30,000 to about 80,000 Da and most preferably about 40,000 Da. In the case of HES being such high molecular weight moiety the molecular weight is preferably from about 50 to about 1000 kDa, more preferably from about 100 to about 700 kDa and most preferably from 200 to 500 kDa. HES exhibits a molar substitution of 0.1 to 1.5, more preferably of 1 to 1.5 and exhibits a substitution sample expressed as the C2/C6 ratio of approximately 0.1 to 15, preferably of approximately 3 to 10. The process of HES modification is, e.g., described in German patent application DE 1 2004 006 249.8 the disclosure of which is herewith incorporated in its entirety by reference.

The modification can, in principle, be made to the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention at any position thereof. Preferably such modification is made either to the 5′-terminal nucleotide, the 3′-terminal nucleotide and/or any nucleotide between the 5′ nucleotide and the 3′ nucleotide of the nucleic acid molecule.

The modification and preferably the PEG and/or HES moiety can be attached to the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention either directly or indirectly, preferably through a linker. It is also within the present invention that the nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention comprises one or more modifications, preferably one or more PEG and/or HES moiety. In an embodiment the individual linker molecule attaches more than one PEG moiety or HES moiety to a nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention. The linker used in connection with the present invention can itself be either linear or branched. This kind of linkers are known to the ones skilled in the art and are further described in patent applications WO2005/074993 and WO2003/035665.

In a preferred embodiment the linker is a biodegradable linker. The biodegradable linker allows to modify the characteristics of the nucleic acid according to the present invention in terms of, among other, residence time in an animal body, preferably in a human body, due to release of the modification from the nucleic acid according to the present invention. Usage of a biodegradable linker may allow a better control of the residence time of the nucleic acid according to the present invention. A preferred embodiment of such biodegradable linker is a biodegradable linker as described in, but not limited to, international patent applications WO2006/052790, WO2008/034122, WO2004/092191 and WO2005/099768.

It is within the present invention that the modification or modification group is a biodegradable modification, whereby the biodegradable modification can be attached to the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention either directly or indirectly, preferably through a linker. The biodegradable modification allows to modify the characteristics of the nucleic acid according to the present invention in terms of, among other, residence time in an animal body, preferably in a human body, due to release or degradation of the modification from the nucleic acid according to the present invention. Usage of biodegradable modification may allow a better control of the residence time of the nucleic acid according to the present invention. A preferred embodiment of such biodegradable modification is biodegradable as described in, but not restricted to, international patent applications WO2002/065963, WO2003/070823, WO2004/113394 and WO2000/41647, preferably in WO2000/41647, page 18, line 4 to 24.

Beside the modifications as described above, other modifications can be used to modify the characteristics of the nucleic acids according to the present invention, whereby such other modifications may be selected from the group of proteins, lipids such as cholesterol and sugar chains such as amylase, dextran etc.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it seems that by modifying the nucleic acids according to the present invention with high molecular weight moiety such as a polymer and more particularly one or several of the polymers disclosed herein, which are preferably physiologically acceptable, the excretion kinetic is changed. More particularly, it seems that due to the increased molecular weight of such modified inventive nucleic acids and due to the nucleic acids of the invention not being subject to metabolism particularly when in the L form, excretion from an animal body, preferably from a mammalian body and more preferably from a human body is decreased. As excretion typically occurs via the kidneys, the present inventors assume that the glomerular filtration rate of the thus modified nucleic acids is significantly reduced compared to the nucleic acids not having this kind of high molecular weight modification which results in an increase in the residence time in the animal body. In connection therewith it is particularly noteworthy that, despite such high molecular weight modification the specificity of the nucleic acids according to the present invention is not affected in a detrimental manner. Insofar, the nucleic acids according to the present invention have among others, the surprising characteristic—which normally cannot be expected from pharmaceutically active compounds—such that a pharmaceutical formulation providing for a sustained release is not necessarily required to provide for a sustained release of the nucleic acids according to the present invention. Rather the nucleic acids according to the present invention in their modified form comprising a high molecular weight moiety, can as such already be used as a sustained release-formulation as they act, due to their modification, already as if they were released from a sustained-release formulation. Insofar, the modification(s) of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention as disclosed herein and the thus modified nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention and any composition comprising the same may provide for a distinct, preferably controlled pharmacokinetics and biodistribution thereof. This also includes residence time in circulation and distribution to tissues. Such modifications are further described in the patent application WO2003/035665.

However, it is also within the present invention that the nucleic acids according to the present invention do not comprise any modification and particularly no high molecular weight modification such as PEGylation or HESylation. Such embodiment is particularly preferred when the nucleic acid according to the present invention shows preferential distribution to any target organ or tissue in the body or when a fast clearance of the nucleic acid according to the present invention from the body after administration is desired. Nucleic acids according to the present invention as disclosed herein with a preferential distribution profile to any target organ or tissue in the body would allow establishment of effective local concentrations in the target tissue while keeping systemic concentration of the nucleic acids low. This would allow the use of low doses which is not only beneficial from an economic point of view, but also reduces unnecessary exposure of other tissues to the nucleic acid agent, thus reducing the potential risk of side effects. Fast clearance of the nucleic acids according to the present invention from the body after administration might be desired, among others, in case of in vivo imaging or specific therapeutic dosing requirements using the nucleic acids according to the present invention or medicaments comprising the same.

The nucleic acids according to the present invention, and/or the antagonists according to the present invention may be used for the generation or manufacture of a medicament. Such medicament or a pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention contains at least one of the inventive nucleic acids selected from the group of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids, optionally together with further pharmaceutically active compounds, whereby the inventive nucleic acid preferably acts as pharmaceutically active compound itself. Such medicaments comprise in preferred embodiments at least a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such carrier may be, e.g., water, buffer, PBS, glucose solution, preferably a 5% glucose salt balanced solution, starch, sugar, gelatine or any other acceptable carrier substance. Such carriers are generally known to the one skilled in the art. It will be acknowledged by the person skilled in the art that any embodiments, use and aspects of or related to the medicament of the present invention is also applicable to the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention and vice versa.

The indication, diseases and disorders for the treatment and/or prevention of which the nucleic acids, the pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments in accordance with or prepared in accordance with the present invention result from the involvement, either direct or indirect, of SDF-1 in the respective pathogenetic mechanism.

Of course, because the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids according to the present invention interact with or bind to human or murine SDF-1, a skilled person will generally understand that the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids according to the present invention can easily be used for the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of any disease as described herein of humans and animals. In connection therewith, it is to be acknowledged that the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention can be used for the treatment and prevention of any of the diseases, disorder or condition described herein, irrespective of the mode of action underlying such disease, disorder and condition.

In the following the rational for the use of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention in connection with the various diseases, disorders and conditions is provided, thus rendering the claimed therapeutic, preventive and diagnostic applicability of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention plausible. In order to avoid any unnecessary repetition, it should be acknowledged that due to the involvement of the SDF-1-SDF-1 receptor axis as outlined in connection therewith said axis may be addressed by the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention such that the claimed therapeutic, preventive and diagnostic effect is achieved. It should furthermore be acknowledged that the particularities of the diseases, disorders and conditions, of the patients and any detail of the treatment regimen described in connection therewith, may be subject to preferred embodiments of the instant application.

For haematological malignancies, in particular, there is considerable evidence that leukemia cells may be protected from conventional therapies (chemotherapy combined with various targeted agents such as specific antibodies or kinase inhibitors) within particular tissue microenvironments, referred to as niches. Such niches are found particularly in the bone marrow where they can harbour malignant cells that are then able to expand and produce a relapse following the initial therapy (Burger and Kipps, 2002; Burger and Burkle, 2007; Meads et al., 2008; Burger, Ghia et al., 2009). This preservation of malignant cells during chemotherapy is thought to be largely due to direct contact between the malignant cells and stromal cells (Lagneaux, Delforge et al. 1998; Kurtova, Balakrishnan et al., 2009; Damiano, Cress et al., 1999) however in the complexity of this microenvironment there are multiple cellular and molecular signals that may lead to resistance of the malignant cells to chemotherapy. Despite this complexity it is clear that stromal cells produce the chemokine SDF-1 and that both normal and malignant cells that express CXCR4 migrate to and are held in such niches. That this molecular pathway is key for this interaction is demonstrated by the fact that specific inhibition of this interaction is sufficient to release both normal and malignant cells from the niches (Broxmeyer, Orschell et al., 2005; Devine, Flomenberg et al., 2004; Azab, Runnels et al., 2009). In addition to weakening the interaction with the niches it has been shown for numerous hematological malignancies that disruption of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis results in increasing the vulnerability of the cells to other therapies—so called ‘chemosensitization’. This chemosensitization has been described for multiple myeloma (Azab, Runnels et al., 2009) and various acute and chronic leukemias (Dillmann, Veldwijk et al., 2009; Lagneaux, Delforge et al. 1998).

Therefore use of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids according to the present invention to disrupt cross talk between malignant cells and their milieu to sensitize them to other therapies is an attractive strategy for the treatment of haematological malignacies. Examples of therapies that can be enhanced by combination with SDF-1 binding nucleic acids according to the present invention include the following but not limited to Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, Rituxan, Chlorambucil, Lenalidomide, •Bortezomib, •Dexamethasone, •Melphalan, Imatinib or Nilotinib.

The foregoing description emphasized the role of bone marrow stromal cells and bone marrow niches in the protection of malignant cells from the effects of chemotherapy or other targeted therapies for haematological malignancies. However there is evidence for similar interactions occurring locally within solid tumors as a large proportion of the cells in solid tumors are not cancer cells but rather stromal, immune or vascular cells derived from the host that interact intimately with the tumor cells. Many different types of solid tumors express CXCR4 (Engl, Relja et al., 2006; Müller, Homey et al., 2001; Koshiba, Hosotani et al., 2000, Ehtesham, Stevenson, et al., 2008; Zeelenberg, Ruuls-Van Stalle et al., 2003; Sauer, Seidler et al., 2005; Su, Zhang et al., 2005) and/or CXCR7 (Burns, Summers et al. 2006; Miao et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2008; Zheng, Li et al., 2010) receptors either constitutively or in response to hypoxia or various treatments. Malignant cells may use this signaling pathway for survival and migration by activation of Akt and Erk. SDF-1 can be produced by the malignant cells themselves or by the stromal cells within the tumor. Once again in this complex environment the exact mechanism by which tumour cells grow and escape from chemotherapy or other therapeutic approaches are not clearly defined. However it is clear that the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis and the SDF-1-CXCR7 play an important role. For example inhibition of CXCR4 sensitizes glioma cell lines to in vitro chemotherapy (Redjal et al., 2006) and high expression of CXCR4 is predictive of poor outcome in breast cancer (Holm, Abreo et al., 2008; Mizell, Smith et al., 2009) and gastro-intestinal cancers (Schimanski et al., 2008). Therefore the use of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids according to the present invention to inhibit the action of SDF-1 on either CXCR4 or CXCR7 receptors in a wide variety of solid tumors will enhance current therapy by making the cells more vulnerable to the therapy either by direct action or by blocking interactions with other cells in the tumor.

In addition to the above aspects CXCR4 also conveys signals that are thought to be critical for recruitment and retention of pro-angiogenic and immunosuppressive bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs). This pathway may therefore also be used for VEGF-independent angiogenesis. As a consequence, blocking the SDF1-CXCR4 axis to sensitize tumors to anti-VEGF therapy or radiation has emerged as an attractive strategy treatment for solid cancers.

However, there is a concern that CXCR4 blockade may not be sufficient to block the effects of SDF-1, which may also bind to CXCR7 on cancer or stromal cells. For example, CXCR7 has been recently reported to be expressed in brain tumor cells and mediate anti-apoptotic effects, and has also been shown to regulate the invasion, angiogenesis and tumor growth of human hepatocellular carcinomas. In such cases the action of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids to block the action of SDF-1 on both the CXCR7 and CXCR4 receptors in a single agent would provide a particular efficacy compared to specific receptor blockers.

The medicament according to the present invention may be used in combination with a further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent, whereby the further medicament or the further pharmaceutically active agent damages, destroys and/or labels (the) cancer cells. If the nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention is used with a further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent, the therapy which is based on the nucleic acid molecule is preferably an adjunct therapy to the therapy making use of or being based on the further medicament or further pharmaceutically active agent. Such further medicament or further pharmaceutically active agent are preferably selected from but not restricted to the group comprising

-   a) antibodies such as Rituximab (target: CD20), Cetuximab (target:     epidermal growth factor receptor), Ibritumomab-Tiuxetan (target:     CD20), Tositumomab (target: CD20), Trastuzumab (target: HER2/neu),     Bevacizumab (target: VEGF), Alemtuzumab (target: CD52); -   b) alkylating agents such as cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin,     mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, Doxorubicin,     liposomal Doxorubicin, bendamustine, Melphalan, temozolomide -   c) anti-metabolites such as purineazathioprine, mercaptopurine,     fludarabine, pentostatin, cladribine; -   d) plant alkaloids such vinca alkaloids, plant terpenoids such as     taxanes, preferably Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin,     epothilone; -   e) topoisomerase inhibitors such as camptothecins, irinitecan,     mitoxantrone; -   f) and other such as Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Tamoxifen, Sorafenib,     Lenalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone, Flurouracil and Prednisone.

Other agents that can be used as further pharmaceutically active agent in the treatment of cancer are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to immunosuppressive drugs, cytokines and cytostatic drugs (for reference: “Allgemeine und Spezielle Pharmakologie und Toxikologie 2011”, editor: Thomas Karow; Pulheim, Germany). Such agents well known in the art are used in the treatment of cancer according to the current standard of care for the particular cancer patient population.

It will be acknowledged that the above specified further pharmaceutically active agents can be used in connection with each any aspect of the present invention which makes use of such further pharmaceutically active agent.

The further medicament or pharmaceutically active agent has or may provide the function of a chemotherapy. Alternatively or additionally to chemotherapy radiotherapy can be used.

The medicament according to the present invention, in combination with or without the further medicament or further pharmaceutically active agent, and with or without radiotherapy, can be used for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer, preferably

-   a) hematological cancer, whereby more preferably the hematological     cancer is selected from the group of leukemia, and myeloma. -   b) solid tumors, whereby more solid tumors are selected from the     group of glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma,     prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, and     ovarian cancer

Preferably breast cancer is selected from the group of advanced HER2-negative breast cancer.

Preferably leukemia is selected from the group of chronic lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.

Preferably myeloma is selected from the group of multiple myeloma.

The preferred further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent for the treatment of Glioblastoma is radiotherapy or chemotherapy with temozolomide or therapy with bevacizumab. The preferred further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer is selected from the group comprising fluorouracil, •Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan and bevacizumab.

The preferred further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent for the treatment of advanced HER2-negative breast cancer is selected from the group of Doxorubicin, •Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, •Methotrexate, •Fluorouracil, •Bevacizumab, •Tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors.

The preferred further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent for the treatment of chronic lymphoid leukemia is•selected from the group comprising fludarabine, •cyclophosphamide, •rituximab, Chlorambucil, alemtuzumab, vincristine, pentostatin, mitoxantrone, doxorubicin, cladribine, and bendamustine.

The preferred further medicament or a further pharmaceutically active agent for the treatment of multiple myeloma is selected from the group comprising Lenalidomide, •Bortezomib, •Dexamethasone, •Melphalan, Cyclophosphamide, liposomal doxorubicin, and prednisone.

In one embodiment of the medicament of the present invention, such medicament is for use in combination with other treatments for any of the diseases disclosed herein, particularly those for which the medicament of the present invention is to be used.

“Combination therapy” (or “co-therapy”) includes the administration of a medicament of the invention and at least a second or further agent as part of a specific treatment regimen intended to provide the beneficial effect from the co-action of these therapeutic agents, i.e. the medicament of the present invention and said second or further agent. The beneficial effect of the combination includes, but is not limited to, pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic co-action resulting from the combination of therapeutic agents. Administration of these therapeutic agents in combination typically is carried out over a defined time period (usually minutes, hours, days or weeks depending upon the combination selected).

“Combination therapy” may be, but generally is not, intended to encompass the administration of two or more of these therapeutic agents as part of separate monotherapy regimens. “Combination therapy” is intended to embrace administration of these therapeutic agents in a sequential manner, that is, wherein each therapeutic agent is administered at a different time, as well as administration of these therapeutic agents, or at least two of the therapeutic agents, in a substantially simultaneous manner. Substantially simultaneous administration can be accomplished, for example, by administering to a subject a single capsule having a fixed ratio of each therapeutic agent or in multiple, single capsules for each of the therapeutic agents.

Sequential or substantially simultaneous administration of each therapeutic agent can be effected by any appropriate route including, but not limited to, topical routes, oral routes, intravenous routes, intramuscular routes, and direct absorption through mucous membrane tissues. The therapeutic agents can be administered by the same route or by different routes. For example, a first therapeutic agent of the combination selected may be administered by injection while the other therapeutic agents of the combination may be administered topically.

Alternatively, for example, all therapeutic agents may be administered topically or all therapeutic agents may be administered by injection. The sequence in which the therapeutic agents are administered is not narrowly critical unless noted otherwise. “Combination therapy” also can embrace the administration of the therapeutic agents as described above in further combination with other biologically active ingredients. Where the combination therapy further comprises a non-drug treatment, the non-drug treatment may be conducted at any suitable time so long as a beneficial effect from the co-action of the combination of the therapeutic agents and non-drug treatment is achieved. For example, in appropriate cases, the beneficial effect is still achieved when the non-drug treatment is temporally removed from the administration of the therapeutic agents, perhaps by days or even weeks.

As outlined in general terms above, the medicament according to the present invention can be administered, in principle, in any form known to the ones skilled in the art. A preferred route of administration is systemic administration, more preferably by parenteral administration, preferably by injection. Alternatively, the medicament may be administered locally. Other routes of administration comprise intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous, per orum, intranasal, intratracheal or pulmonary with preference given to the route of administration that is the least invasive, while ensuring efficiency.

Parenteral administration is generally used for subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections and infusions. Additionally, one approach for parenteral administration employs the implantation of a slow-release or sustained-released systems, which assures that a constant level of dosage is maintained, that are well known to the ordinary skill in the art.

Furthermore, preferred medicaments of the present invention can be administered in intranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles, inhalants, or via transdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches well known to those of ordinary skill in that art. To be administered in the form of a transdermal delivery system, the dosage administration will, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout the dosage regimen. Other preferred topical preparations include creams, ointments, lotions, aerosol sprays and gels.

Subjects that will respond favorably to the method of the invention include medical and veterinary subjects generally, including human beings and human patients. Among other subjects for whom the methods and means of the invention are useful are cats, dogs, large animals, avians such as chickens, and the like.

The medicament of the present invention will generally comprise an effective amount of the active component(s) of the therapy, including, but not limited to, a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention, dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium. Pharmaceutically acceptable media or carriers include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the art. Supplementary active ingredients can also be incorporated into the medicament of the present invention.

In a further aspect the present invention is related to a pharmaceutical composition. Such pharmaceutical composition comprises at least one of the nucleic acids according to the present invention and preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable binder. Such binder can be any binder used and/or known in the art. More particularly such binder is any binder as discussed in connection with the manufacture of the medicament disclosed herein. In a further embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a further pharmaceutically active agent.

The preparation of a medicament and a pharmaceutical composition will be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. Typically, such compositions may be prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions; solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid prior to injection; as tablets or other solids for oral administration; as time release capsules; or in any other form currently used, including eye drops, creams, lotions, salves, inhalants and the like. The use of sterile formulations, such as saline-based washes, by surgeons, physicians or health care workers to treat a particular area in the operating field may also be particularly useful. Compositions may also be delivered via microdevice, microparticle or sponge.

Upon formulation, a medicament will be administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in such amount as is pharmacologically effective. The formulations are easily administered in a variety of dosage forms, such as the type of injectable solutions described above, but drug release capsules and the like can also be employed.

The medicament of the invention can also be administered in oral dosage forms as timed release and sustained release tablets or capsules, pills, powders, granules, elixirs, tinctures, suspensions, syrups and emulsions. Suppositories are advantageously prepared from fatty emulsions or suspensions.

The pharmaceutical composition or medicament may be sterilized and/or contain adjuvants, such as preserving, stabilizing, wetting or emulsifying agents, solution promoters, salts for regulating the osmotic pressure and/or buffers. In addition, they may also contain other therapeutically valuable substances. The compositions are prepared according to conventional mixing, granulating, or coating methods, and typically contain about 0.1% to 75%, preferably about 1% to 50%, of the active ingredient.

Liquid, particularly injectable compositions can, for example, be prepared by dissolving, dispersing, etc. The active compound is dissolved in or mixed with a pharmaceutically pure solvent such as, for example, water, saline, aqueous dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, and the like, to thereby form the injectable solution or suspension. Additionally, solid forms suitable for dissolving in liquid prior to injection can be formulated.

The medicaments and nucleic acid molecules, respectively, of the present invention can also be administered in the form of liposome delivery systems, such as small unilamellar vesicles, large unilamellar vesicles and multilamellar vesicles. Liposomes can be formed from a variety of phospholipids, containing cholesterol, stearylamine or phosphatidylcholines. In some embodiments, a film of lipid components is hydrated with an aqueous solution of drug to a form lipid layer encapsulating the drug, what is well known to the ordinary skill in the art. For example, the nucleic acid molecules described herein can be provided as a complex with a lipophilic compound or non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compound constructed using methods known in the art. Additionally, liposomes may bear such nucleic acid molecules on their surface for targeting and carrying cytotoxic agents internally to mediate cell killing. An example of nucleic-acid associated complexes is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,020.

The medicaments and nucleic acid molecules, respectively, of the present invention may also be coupled with soluble polymers as targetable drug carriers. Such polymers can include polyvinylpyrrolidone, pyran copolymer, polyhydroxypropyl-methacrylamide-phenol, polyhydroxyethylaspanamidephenol, or polyethyleneoxidepolylysine substituted with palmitoyl residues. Furthermore, the medicaments and nucleic acid molecules, respectively, of the present invention may be coupled to a class of biodegradable polymers useful in achieving controlled release of a drug, for example, polylactic acid, polyepsilon capro lactone, polyhydroxy butyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydropyrans, polycyanoacrylates and cross-linked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels.

If desired, the pharmaceutical composition and medicament, respectively, to be administered may also contain minor amounts of non-toxic auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents, and other substances such as for example, sodium acetate, and triethanolamine oleate.

The dosage regimen utilizing the nucleic acid molecules and medicaments, respectively, of the present invention is selected in accordance with a variety of factors including type, species, age, weight, sex and medical condition of the patient; the severity of the condition to be treated; the route of administration; the renal and hepatic function of the patient; and the particular aptamer or salt thereof employed. An ordinarily skilled physician or veterinarian can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the drug required to prevent, counter or arrest the progress of the condition.

Effective plasma levels of the nucleic acid according to the present invention preferably range from 500 fM to 200 μM, preferably from 1 nM to 20 μM, more preferably from 5 nM to 20 μM, most preferably 50 nM to 20 μM in the treatment of any of the diseases disclosed herein.

The nucleic acid molecules and medicaments, respectively, of the present invention may preferably be administered in a single daily dose, every second or third day, weekly, every second week, in a single monthly dose or every third month.

It is within the present invention that the medicament as described herein constitutes the pharmaceutical composition disclosed herein.

In a further aspect the present invention is related to a method for the treatment of a subject who is in need of such treatment, whereby the method comprises the administration of a pharmaceutically active amount of at least one of the nucleic acids according to the present invention. In an embodiment, the subject suffers from a disease or is at risk to develop such disease, whereby the disease is any of those disclosed herein, particularly any of those diseases disclosed in connection with the use of any of the nucleic acids according to the present invention for the manufacture of a medicament.

As preferably used herein, the term treatment comprises in a preferred embodiment additionally or alternatively prevention and/or follow-up.

As preferably used herein, the terms disease and disorder shall be used in an interchangeable manner, if not indicated to the contrary.

As used herein, the term comprise is preferably not intended to limit the subject matter followed or described by such term. However, in an alternative embodiment the term comprises shall be understood in the meaning of containing and thus as limiting the subject matter followed or described by such term.

The various SEQ ID NOs:, the chemical nature of the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention and the target molecules SDF-1 as used herein, the actual sequence thereof and the internal reference number is summarized in the following table. It has to be noticed that the nucleic acids were characterized on the aptamer, i.e. D-nucleic acid level (D-RNA) with the biotinylated human D-SDF-1 (SEQ ID NO: 4) or on the Spiegelmer level, i.e. L-nucleic acid (L-RNA) with the natural configuration of SDF-1, the L-SDF-1 (human SDF-1α, SEQ ID NO: 1). The different nucleic acids share one internal reference name but one SEQ ID Nos: for the D-RNA (Aptamer) molecule and one SEQ ID Nos: for the L-RNA (Spiegelmer) molecule, respectively.

TABLE 1 SEQ ID NO: RNA/Peptide Sequence Internal Reference 1 L-peptide KPVSLSYRCPCRFFESHVARANVKHLKILNTPNCALQIVARLKNNNR human/monkey/cat SDF- QVCIDPKLKWIQEYLEKALNK 1α human/monkey/cat SDF-1 2 L-peptide KPVSLSYRCPCRFFESHVARANVKHLKILNTPNCALQIVARLKNNNR human/monkey/cat SDF- QVCIDPKLKWIQEYLEKALNKRFKM 1β 3 L-peptide KPVSLSYRCPCRFFESHIARANVKHLKILNTPNCALQIVARLKNNNR murine SDF-1α QVCIDPKLKWIQEYLEKALNK murine SDF-1 4 D-peptide KPVSLSYRCPCRFFESHVARANVKHLKILNTPNCALQIVARLKNNNR biotinylated hu D-SDF- QVCIDPKLKWIQEYLEKALNKRFK-Biotin 1 5 L-RNA AGCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGCU 193-C2-001 6 L-RNA AGCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGCU 193-G2-001 7 L-RNA AGCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAAUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCGCU 193-F2-001 8 L-RNA GCGAGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCGC 193-G1-002 9 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCGC 193-D2-002 10 L-RNA GCAUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCCC 193-A1-002 11 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAAUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGACGC 193-D3-002 12 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGAGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-B3-002 13 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAAAGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-H3-002 14 L-RNA GUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGUUCCUAGUCAGGUAUGC 193-E3-002 15 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUUAGGUACGC 193-D1-002 16 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-C2-002 17 L-RNA CGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACG 193-C2-003 18 L-RNA GUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUAC 193-C2-004 19 L-RNA UGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUA 193-C2-005 20 L-RNA GGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGU 193-C2-006 21 L-RNA GUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGG 193-C2-007 22 L-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-G2-012 23 L-RNA GCGCGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGCGCGC 193-G2-013 24 L-RNA GCGCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGCGC 193-G2-014 25 L-RNA GGGCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGCCC 193-G2-015 26 L-RNA GGCCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGGCC 193-G2-016 27 L-RNA GCCCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGGGC 193-G2-017 28 L-RNA 5′-40 kDa-PEG- 193-G2-012-5′-PEG, GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC NOX-A12 29 D-RNA AGCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGCU 193-C2-001 30 D-RNA AGCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGCU 193-G2-001 31 D-RNA AGCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAAUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCGCU 193-F2-001 32 D-RNA GCGAGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCGC 193-G1-002 33 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCGC 193-D2-002 34 D-RNA GCAUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUGCCC 193-A1-002 35 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAAUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGACGC 193-D3-002 36 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGAGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-B3-002 37 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAAAGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-H3-002 38 D-RNA GUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGUUCCUAGUCAGGUAUGC 193-E3-002 39 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUUAGGUACGC 193-D1-002 40 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-C2-002 41 D-RNA CGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACG 193-C2-003 42 D-RNA GUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUAC 193-C2-004 43 D-RNA UGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUA 193-C2-005 44 D-RNA GGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGU 193-C2-006 45 D-RNA GUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAGUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGG 193-C2-007 46 D-RNA GCGUGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGUACGC 193-G2-012 47 D-RNA GCGCGGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGCGCGC 193-G2-013 48 D-RNA GCGCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGCGC 193-G2-014 49 D-RNA GGGCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGCCC 193-G2-015 50 D-RNA GGCCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGGCC 193-G2-016 51 D-RNA GCCCGUGUGAUCUAGAUGUAUUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGGGGGC 193-G2-017 52 L-RNA GUGUGAUCUAGAUGUADWGGCUGWUCCUAGUYAGG Type B Formula-1 53 L-RNA GUGUGAUCUAGAUGUADUGGCUGAUCCUAGUCAGG Type B Formula-2 54 L-RNA AAAGUAACACGUAAAAUGAAAGGUAAC 55 L-RNA AAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGC 56 L-RNA GGUUAGGGCUAAAGUCGG 57 L-RNA GGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGG 58 L-RNA GGUUAGGGCUCGAAGUCGG 59 L-RNA GGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGG 60 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAGC 192-A10-001 61 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-G10 62 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACACGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCGCAGC 192-F10 63 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACACGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-B11 64 L-RNA GCUGUAAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACUACAGC 192-C9 65 L-RNA GCUGUAAAAGUAACAAGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACUACAGC 192-E10 66 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAAGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-C10 67 L-RNA GCAGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-D11 68 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACUGC 192-G11 69 L-RNA GCUAUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCAUAGC 192-H11 70 L-RNA GCUGCGAAAGCGACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAGC 192-D10 71 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCACAGC 192-E9 72 L-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAGC 192-H9 73 L-RNA AGCGUGAAAGUAACACGUAAAAUGAAAGGUAACCACGCU 191-A6 74 L-RNA AAAGYRACAHGUMAAX_(A)UGAAAGGUARC; X_(A) = A or absent Type A Formula-1 75 L-RNA AAAGYRACAHGUMAAUGAAAGGUARC Type A Formula-2 76 L-RNA AAAGYRACAHGUMAAAUGAAAGGUARC Type A Formula-3 77 L-RNA AAAGYAACAHGUCAAUGAAAGGUARC Type A Formula-4 78 L-RNA CUGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAG 192-A10-002 79 L-RNA UGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCA 192-A10-003 80 L-RNA GUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGC 192-A10-004 81 L-RNA UGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCG 192-A10-005 82 L-RNA GAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCC 192-A10-006 83 L-RNA AAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGC 192-A10-007 84 L-RNA GCGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCGC 192-A10-008 85 L-RNA GCGCGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCGC 192-A10-015 86 L-RNA GCGGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCCGC 192-A10-014 87 L-RNA CGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCG 192-A10-016 88 L-RNA GCGCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGUGC 192-A10-017 89 L-RNA GUGCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGCGC 192-A10-018 90 L-RNA CGCGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGUG 192-A10-019 91 L-RNA GGGCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGCCC 192-A10-020 92 L-RNA GGCCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGGCC 192-A10-021 93 L-RNA GCCCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGGGC 192-A10-022 94 L-RNA CCCCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGGGG 192-A10-023 95 L-RNA GUGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-B2 96 L-RNA AGCGUGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACACGCU 191-D5-001 97 L-RNA GUGUUGCGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCAGCAGCAC 197-H1 98 L-RNA CGUGCGGCCUAAGAGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGUCUUUGGCCA 190-D3 ACACG 99 L-RNA CGUGCGCUUGAGAUAGGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUC 190-A3-001 UCACG 100 L-RNA CGUGAUUGGUGAGGGGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGGCCUUGUCCAG 190-A2 UCACG 101 L-RNA AGCGUGAAGGGGUUAGGGCUCGAAGUCGGCUGACACGCU 191-A5 102 L-RNA GUGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUCGAAGUCGGCCCGCAGCAC 197-H3 103 L-RNA GUGUUCCCGGGGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGGCCGGCAGCAC 197-B1 104 L-RNA GUGUUGCAGGGGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-E3 105 L-RNA GUGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUCAAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-H2 106 L-RNA GUGCUGCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAA-AGUCGGCCGACAGCAC 197-D1 107 L-RNA GUGCUGUGGGGGUCAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-D2 108 L-RNA GGUYAGGGCUHRX_(A)AGUCGG; X_(A) = A or absent Type C Formula-1 109 L-RNA GGUYAGGGCUHRAAGUCGG Type C Formula-2 110 L-RNA GGUYAGGGCUHRAGUCGG Type C Formula-3 111 L-RNA GGUUAGGGCUHGAAGUCGG Type C Formula-4 112 L-RNA UGAGAUAGGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUCUCA 190-A3-003 113 L-RNA GAGAUAGGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUCUC 190-A3-004 114 L-RNA GGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUCU 190-A3-007 115 L-RNA GCGUGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACACGC 191-D5-002 116 L-RNA CGUGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACACG 191-D5-003 117 L-RNA CGGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACCG 191-D5-004 118 L-RNA CGGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGCCCG 191-D5-005 119 L-RNA CGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGCCG 191-D5-006 120 L-RNA CGGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCCCG 191-D5-007 121 L-RNA GGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCCC 191-D5-010 122 L-RNA CCGCGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGGCGG 191-D5-017 123 L-RNA CCCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGGG 191-D5-029 124 L-RNA GGCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGCC 191-D5-024 125 L-RNA CCCGCGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGGCGGG 191-D5-017-29a 126 L-RNA GCCGCGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGGCGGC 191-D5-017-29b 127 L-RNA CCCCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGGGG 191-D5-019-29a 128 L-RNA CGGCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGCCG 191-D5-024-29a 129 L-RNA GGGCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGCCC 191-D5-024-29b 130 L-RNA UGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCA 197-B2-001 131 L-RNA GCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGC 197-B2-002 132 L-RNA CUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAG 197-B2-003 133 L-RNA UGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCA 197-B2-004 134 L-RNA GCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGC 197-B2-005 135 L-RNA GCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGC 197-B2-006 136 L-RNA GGCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGCC 197-B2-006-31a 137 L-RNA CGCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGCG 197-B2-006-31b 138 L-RNA RKSBUSNVGR Type C Formula-5-5′ 139 L-RNA YYNRCASSMY Type C Formula-5-3′ 140 L-RNA RKSBUGSVGR Type C Formula-6-5′ 141 L-RNA YCNRCASSMY Type C Formula-6-3′ 142 L-RNA CGUGGUCCGUUGUGUCAGGUCUAUUCGCCCCGGUGCAGGGCAUCCGCG 194-A2-001 143 L-RNA GCAGUGUGACGCGGACGUGAUAGGACAGAGCUGAUCCCGCUCAGGUGAG 196-B12-003 144 L-RNA CAACAGCAGUGUGACGCGGACGUGAUAGGACAGAGCUGAUCCCGCUCAG 196-B12-004 145 L-RNA 5′-40 kDa-PEG-GCGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCGC 192-A10-008-5′-PEG 146 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAGC 192-A10-001 147 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-G10 148 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACACGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCGCAGC 192-F10 149 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACACGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-B11 150 D-RNA GCUGUAAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACUACAGC 192-C9 151 D-RNA GCUGUAAAAGUAACAAGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACUACAGC 192-E10 152 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAAGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-C10 153 D-RNA GCAGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACAGC 192-D11 154 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCACUGC 192-G11 155 D-RNA GCUAUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAACCAUAGC 192-H11 156 D-RNA GCUGCGAAAGCGACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAGC 192-D10 157 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCACAGC 192-E9 158 D-RNA GCUGUGAAAGUAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAGC 192-H9 159 D-RNA AGCGUGAAAGUAACACGUAAAAUGAAAGGUAACCACGCU 191-A6 160 D-RNA CUGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCAG 192-A10-002 161 D-RNA UGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCA 192-A10-003 162 D-RNA GUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGC 192-A10-004 163 D-RNA UGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCG 192-A10-005 164 D-RNA GAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCC 192-A10-006 165 D-RNA AAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGC 192-A10-007 166 D-RNA GCGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCGC 192-A10-008 167 D-RNA GCGCGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCGC 192-A10-015 168 D-RNA GCGGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCCGC 192-A10-014 169 D-RNA CGUGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGCG 192-A10-016 170 D-RNA GCGCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGUGC 192-A10-017 171 D-RNA GUGCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGCGC 192-A10-018 172 D-RNA CGCGAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCCGUG 192-A10-019 173 D-RNA GGGCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGCCC 192-A10-020 174 D-RNA GGCCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGGCC 192-A10-021 175 D-RNA GCCCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGGGC 192-A10-022 176 D-RNA CCCCAAAGCAACAUGUCAAUGAAAGGUAGCGGGG 192-A10-023 177 D-RNA GUGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-B2 178 D-RNA AGCGUGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACACGCU 191-D5-001 179 D-RNA GUGUUGCGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCAGCAGCAC 197-H1 180 D-RNA CGUGCGGCCUAAGAGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGUCUUUGGCCA 190-D3 ACACG 181 D-RNA CGUGCGCUUGAGAUAGGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUC 190-A3-001 UCACG 182 D-RNA CGUGAUUGGUGAGGGGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGGCCUUGUCCAG 190-A2 UCACG 183 D-RNA AGCGUGAAGGGGUUAGGGCUCGAAGUCGGCUGACACGCU 191-A5 184 D-RNA GUGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUCGAAGUCGGCCCGCAGCAC 197-H3 185 D-RNA GUGUUCCCGGGGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGGCCGGCAGCAC 197-B1 186 D-RNA GUGUUGCAGGGGUUAGGGCUUGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-E3 187 D-RNA GUGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUCAAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-H2 188 D-RNA GUGCUGCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAA-AGUCGGCCGACAGCAC 197-D1 189 D-RNA GUGCUGUGGGGGUCAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCAC 197-D2 190 D-RNA UGAGAUAGGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUCUCA 190-A3-003 191 D-RNA GAGAUAGGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUCUC 190-A3-004 192 D-RNA GGGGUUAGGGCUUAAAGUCGGCUGAUUCU 190-A3-007 193 D-RNA GCGUGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACACGC 191-D5-002 194 D-RNA CGUGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACACG 191-D5-003 195 D-RNA CGGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGACCG 191-D5-004 196 D-RNA CGGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGCCCG 191-D5-005 197 D-RNA CGGCGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCGCCG 191-D5-006 198 D-RNA CGGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCCCG 191-D5-007 199 D-RNA GGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCCC 191-D5-010 200 D-RNA CCGCGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGGCGG 191-D5-017 201 D-RNA CCCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGGG 191-D5-029 202 D-RNA GGCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGCC 191-D5-024 203 D-RNA CCCGCGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGGCGGG 191-D5-017-29a 204 D-RNA GCCGCGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGGCGGC 191-D5-017-29b 205 D-RNA CCCCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGGGG 191-D5-019-29a 206 D-RNA CGGCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGCCG 191-D5-024-29a 207 D-RNA GGGCGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCGCCC 191-D5-024-29b 208 D-RNA UGCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGCA 197-B2-001 209 D-RNA GCUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAGC 197-B2-002 210 D-RNA CUGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCAG 197-B2-003 211 D-RNA UGCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGCA 197-B2-004 212 D-RNA GCGGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCUGC 197-B2-005 213 D-RNA GCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGC 197-B2-006 214 D-RNA GGCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGCC 197-B2-006-31a 215 D-RNA CGCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGCG 197-B2-006-31b 216 D-RNA CGUGGUCCGUUGUGUCAGGUCUAUUCGCCCCGGUGCAGGGCAUCCGCG 194-A2-001 217 D-RNA GCAGUGUGACGCGGACGUGAUAGGACAGAGCUGAUCCCGCUCAGGUGAG 196-B12-003 218 D-RNA CAACAGCAGUGUGACGCGGACGUGAUAGGACAGAGCUGAUCCCGCUCAG 196-B12-004 219 L-RNA 5′-40 kDa-PEG- Control Spiegelmer UAAGGAAACUCGGUCUGAUGCGGUAGCGCUGUGCAGAGCU 220 L-RNA CGUGCGCUUGAGAUAGG 221 L-RNA CUGAUUCUCACG 222 L-RNA CUGAUUCUCA 223 L-RNA 5′-40 kDa-PEG-GCCGGGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGCCGGC 197-B2-006-5′-PEG 224 L-RNA 5′-40 kDa-PEG-CGGGAGGUUAGGGCUAGAAGUCGGUCCCG 191-D5-007-5′PEG 225 L-RNA 5′-40 kDa-PEG- revNOX-A12 CGCAUGGACUGAUCCUAGUCGGUUAUGUAGAUCUAGUGUGGUGC G

The present invention is further illustrated by the figures, examples and the sequence listing from which further features, embodiments and advantages may be taken, wherein

FIG. 1 shows an alignment of sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type A”

FIGS. 2A+B show derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule 192-A10-001 (SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type A”);

FIG. 3 shows an alignment of sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type B”;

FIGS. 4A+B show derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules 193-C2-001 and 193-G2-001 (SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of type B);

FIG. 5 shows an alignment of sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type C”;

FIG. 6 shows derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule 190-A3-001 (SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type C”);

FIGS. 7A+B show derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules 190-D5-001 (SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type C”);

FIG. 8 shows derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule 197-B2 (SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecule of “type C”);

FIG. 9 shows further SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules which are, in addition to other SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules, also referred to as SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of “type D”;

FIG. 10 shows the efficacy of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmers 193-G2-012-5′-PEG (also referred to as NOX-A12), 197-B2-006-5′-PEG, 191-D5-007-5′-PEG and 191-A10-008-5′-PEG in a chemotaxis assay with the human T cell leukemia cell line Jurkat whereby cells were allowed to migrate towards 0.3 nM human SDF-1 preincubated at 37° C. with various amounts of Spiegelmers 193-G2-012-5′-PEG, 197-B2-006-5′-PEG, 191-D5-007-5′-PEG and 191-A10-008-5′-PEG, represented as percentage of control over concentration of Spiegelmers 193-G2-012-5′-PEG, 197-B2-006-5′-PEG, 191-D5-007-5′-PEG and 191-A10-008-5′-PEG;

FIG. 11A shows the efficacy of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 in a chemotaxis assay with the human pre-B ALL cell line Nalm-6 whereby cells were allowed to migrate towards 0.3 nM human SDF-1 preincubated at 37° C. with various amounts of Spiegelmer NOX-A12 represented as percentage of control over concentration of Spiegelmer NOX-A12;

FIG. 11B shows the efficacy of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 in a chemotaxis assay with the human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cell line U937 whereby cells were allowed to migrate towards 3 nM human SDF-1 preincubated at 37° C. with various amounts of Spiegelmer NOX-A12 represented as percentage of control over concentration of Spiegelmer NOX-A12;

FIG. 12 shows the efficacy of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 in a chemotaxis assay with the human pre-B cell leukemia cell line BV-173 whereby cells were allowed to migrate towards 3 nM human SDF-1 preincubated at 37° C. with various amounts of Spiegelmer NOX-A12 represented as percentage of control over concentration of Spiegelmer NOX-A12;

FIG. 13 shows the efficacy of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 in a complementation assay with CHO cells stably expressing CXCR7 and β-arrestin both fused to a fragment of β-galactosidase whereby CXCR7 of the cells were activated towards 10 nM human SDF-1 preincubated at 37° C. with various amounts of Spiegelmer NOX-A12 represented as percentage of control over concentration of Spiegelmer NOX-A12;

FIG. 14 shows the inhibition of SDF-1 induced sprouting by human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG (also referred to as NOX-A12) and by PEGylated Control Spiegelmer in aortic ring sprouting assay, whereby rings from rat aorta were embedded in collagen matrix and incubated for 6 days with SDF-1 with or without Spiegelmers (a: control; b: 10 nM SDF-1; c: 10 nM SDF-1+1 μM human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG; d: 10 nM SDF-1+1 μM PEGylated Control Spiegelmer);

FIG. 15 shows the inhibition of SDF-1 induced sprouting by human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG (also referred to as NOX-A12) and by PEGylated Control Spiegelmer in aortic ring sprouting assay whereby sprouting indices are shown as mean+/−SD for 5 rings per condition (*: the value for SDF-1 is significantly different from control (Mann-Whitney-test; p=0.009); **: the value for SDF-1+human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG is significantly different from that for SDF-1 (Mann-Whitney-test; p=0.028)

FIG. 16 shows the efficacy of human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 to sensitize RPMI-8226 MM cells to F-ara-A (Fludarabine), whereby confluent murine BM stromal MS-5 cells secreting SDF-1 were incubated with human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 or the non-functional revNOX-A12 and subsequently cocultured with RPMI-8226 MM cells; cells were treated with 1 μM F-ara-A for 40 hours and cell viability was measured by Flow Cytometry using ViaCount Reagent; Error bars indicate SD, N=5, * p=0.0134, *** p=0.0003 (two-tailed, unpaired t-test);

FIG. 17 shows the efficacy of human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 to inhibit the proliferation of Jurkat cells in coculture with stromal MS-5 cells, whereby murine stromal MS-5 cells secreting SDF-1 were incubated with increasing concentrations of human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12; Jurkat cells were added to the confluent MS-5 cell layer and cell counts were measured after 40 hours by Flow Cytometry using ViaCount Reagent. Error bars indicate SD, N=4, *** p=0.0008 (two-tailed, unpaired t-test);

FIGS. 18A+B show the efficacy of human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 to reverse SDF-1 dose-dependent adhesion of Jurkat cells to fibronectin, whereby Jurkat cells were incubated with SDF-1 alone (A), with SDF-1 and increasing concentrations of human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 or with SDF-1 and increasing concentrations of control Spiegelmer revNOX-A12 (B) for 30 minutes and seeded on fibronectin coated plates for 15 minutes; cells were subsequently washed off with media and attached cells were quantified using Cell Titer Glo Reagent; error bars indicate SD.

EXAMPLE 1 Nucleic Acids that Bind Human SDF-1

In the following the terms ‘nucleic acid’ and ‘nucleic acid molecule’ are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary. Moreover, the terms ‘stretch’ and ‘stretch of nucleotide’ are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary.

L-nucleic acid molecules that bind to human SDF-1 and the respective nucleotide sequences are depicted in FIGS. 1 to 9. The nucleic acids were characterized on the aptamer, i.e. D-nucleic acid level using competitive or direct pull-down binding assays with biotinylated human D-SDF-1 (protocol, see Example 3). Spiegelmers were tested with the natural configuration of SDF-1 (L-SDF-1) by surface plasmon resonance measurement using a Biacore 2000 instrument (protocol, see Example 5) and a cell culture in vitro chemotaxis assay (protocol, see Example 4).

The SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules exhibit different sequence motifs, three main types are defined in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B (Type A), FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B (Type B), FIGS. 5, 4, 7A, 7B and 8 (Type C). The nucleic acid molecules exhibit different sequence motifs. For definition of nucleotide sequence motifs, the IUPAC abbreviations for ambiguous nucleotides is used:

-   -   S strong G or C;     -   W weak A or U;     -   R purine G or A;     -   Y pyrimidine C or U;     -   K keto G or U;     -   M imino A or C;     -   B not A C or U or G;     -   D not C A or G or U;     -   H not G A or C or U;     -   V not U A or C or G;     -   N all A or G or C or U

If not indicated to the contrary, any nucleic acid sequence or sequence of stretches and boxes, respectively, is indicated in the 5′→3′ direction.

SDF-1 Binding Nucleic Acid Molecules of Type A

As depicted in FIG. 1 all sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of type A comprise one central stretch of nucleotides which is flanked by the first (5′-) terminal and the second (3′-) terminal stretch of nucleotides (also referred to as first terminal stretch of nucleotides and second stretch of nucleotides) whereby both stretches can hybridize to each other. However, such hybridization is not necessarily given in the molecule.

In the following the terms ‘SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of type A’ and ‘Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids’ or Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules’ are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary.

The sequences of the defined boxes or stretches of nucleotides may be different between the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids of type A which influences the binding affinity to SDF-1. Based on binding analysis of the different SDF-1 binding nucleic acids summarized as Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids, the central stretch of nucleotides and its nucleotide sequences as described in the following are individually and more preferably in their entirety essential for binding to SDF-1.

The central stretch of nucleotides of all identified sequences of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids share the sequence

whereby X_(A) is either absent or is ‘A’. If ‘A’ is absent, the sequence of the central nucleotide sequence can be summarized as Type A Formula-2

Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-A6 (central nucleotide sequence:

carrying the additional nucleotide ‘A’ within the central nucleotide sequence and still binding to SDF-1 let conclude an alternative central nucleotide sequence

Exemplarily for all the other nucleic acids of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids, the Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 was characterized for its binding affinity to human SDF-1. The equilibrium binding constant K_(D) was determined using the pull-down binding assay (K_(D)=1.5 nM) and by surface plasmon resonance measurement (K_(D)=1.0 nM). The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 0.12 nM for 192-A10-001 was measured using a cell culture in vitro chemotaxis assay. Consequently, all Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids as depicted in FIG. 1 were analyzed in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. 192-A10-001. The Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 192-B11 and 192-C10 showed equal binding affinities as 192-A10-001 in these competition experiments. Weaker binding affinity was determined for Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 192-G10, 192-F10, 192-C9, 192-E10, 192-D11, 192-G11, 192-H11 and 191-A6. The Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 192-D10, 192-E9 and 192-H9 have much weaker binding affinity than 192-A10-001.

As mentioned above, the Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-B11 and 192-C10 exhibit equal binding affinity to SDF-1 as 192-A10-001. However, they show slight differences in the nucleotide sequence of the central stretch of nucleotides. Therefore the consensus sequence of the three molecules binding to SDF-1 with almost the same high affinity can be summarized by the nucleotide sequence

whereby the nucleotide sequence of the central stretch of nucleotides of 192-A10-001 (nucleotide sequence:

represents the nucleotide sequence with the best binding affinity of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids.

Five or six out of the six nucleotides of the 5′-terminal stretch (also referred to as first terminal stretch) of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids may hybridize to the respective five or six nucleotides out of the six nucleotides of the 3′-terminal stretch (also referred to as second terminal stretch) to form a terminal helix. Although these nucleotides are variable at several positions, the different nucleotides allow for hybridization of five or six out of the six nucleotides of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches each. The 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretches of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids as shown in FIG. 1 can be summarized in a generic formula for the 5′-terminal stretch (‘RSHRYR’, Type A Formula-5-5′) and for the 3′-terminal stretch (‘YRYDSY’, Type A Formula-5-3′). Truncated derivatives of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 were analyzed in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. the original molecule 192-A10-001 and 192-A10-008 (FIGS. 2A and 2B). These experiments showed that a reduction of the six terminal nucleotides (5′end: GCUGUG; 3′end: CGCAGC) of 192-A10-001 to five nucleotides (5′end: CUGUG; 3′end: CGCAG) of the derivative 192-A10-002 could be done without reduction of binding affinity. However, the truncation to four terminal nucleotides (5′end: UGUG; 3′end: CGCA; 192-A10-003) or less (192-A10-004/-005/-006/-007) led to reduced binding affinity to SDF-1 (FIG. 2A). The determined 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretches with a length of five and four nucleotides of the derivatives of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B can be described in a generic formula for the 5′-terminal stretch (‘X₂BBBS’, Type A Formula-6-5′) and of the 3′-terminal stretch (‘SBBVX₃’; Type A Formula-6-3′), whereby X₂ is either absent or is ‘S’ and X₃ is either absent or is ‘S’.

The nucleotide sequence of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches has an influence on the binding affinity of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids. This is not only shown by the nucleic acids 192-F10 and 192-E10, but also by derivatives of 192-A10-001 (FIG. 2B). The central stretch of 192-F10 and 192-E10 are identical to 192-B11 and 192-C10, but comprise slight differences at the 3′-end of 5′-terminal stretch and at the 5′-end of 3′-terminal stretch resulting in reduced binding affinity.

The substitution of 5′- and 3′-terminal nucleotides ‘CUGUG’ and ‘CGCAG’ of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-002 by ‘GCGCG’ and ‘CGCGC’ (192-A10-015) resulted in a reduced binding affinity whereas substitutions by ‘GCGUG’ and ‘CGCGC’ (192-A10-008) resulted in same binding affinity as shown for 192-A10-002 (FIG. 2B). Additionally, nine derivatives of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 (192-A10-014/-015/-016/-017/-018/-019/-020/-021/-022/-023) bearing four 5′- and 3′-terminal nucleotides respectively were tested as aptamers for their binding affinity vs. 192-A10-001 or its derivative 192-A10-008 (both have the identical binding affinity to SDF-1). All molecules showed weaker, much weaker or very much weaker binding affinity to SDF-1 as 192-A10-001 (six nucleotides forming a terminal helix) or as 192-A10-008 with five terminal nucleotides, respectively (FIG. 2B). Consequently, the sequence and the number of nucleotides of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches are essential for an effective binding to SDF-1. As shown for Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 192-A10-002 and 192-A10-08 the preferred combination of 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches are ‘CUGUG’ and ‘CGCAG’ (5′- and 3′-terminal stretches of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-002) and ‘GCGUG’ and ‘CGCGC’ (5′- and 3′-terminal stretches of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-008).

However, combining the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches of all tested Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids the generic formula for the 5′-terminal stretch of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids is ‘X₁X₂NNBV’ (Type A Formula-7-5′) and the generic formula for the 3′-terminal stretch of Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acids is ‘BNBNX₃X₄’ (Type A Formula-7-3′), whereas

X₁ is ‘R’ or absent, X₂ is ‘S’, X₃ is ‘S’ and X₄ is ‘Y’ or absent; or X₁ is absent, X₂ is ‘S’ or absent, X₃ is ‘S’ or absent and X₄ is absent.

In order to prolong the Spiegelmer's plasma residence time in vivo, Spiegelmers 192-A10-008 was covalently coupled to a 40 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety at the 5′-end as described in chapter 2. The PEG-moiety has no influence on Spiegelmers potency to inhibit SDF-1 induced chemotaxis.

SDF-1 Binding Nucleic Acid Molecules of Type B

As depicted in FIG. 3 all sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids of type B comprise one central stretch of nucleotides which is flanked by 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches (also referred to as first and second terminal stretch of nucleotides) that can hybridize to each other. However, such hybridization is not necessarily given in the molecule.

In the following the terms ‘SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of type B’ and ‘Type B SDF-1 binding nucleic acids’ or Type B SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules’ are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary.

The sequences of the defined boxes or stretches may be different between the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids which influences the binding affinity to SDF-1. Based on binding analysis of the different SDF-1 binding nucleic acids, the central stretch of nucleotides and its nucleotide sequences as described in the following are individually and more preferably in their entirety essential for binding to SDF-1.

The central stretch of nucleotides of all identified sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-C2-001, 193-G2-001, 193-F2-001, 193-G1-002, 193-D2-002, 193-A1-002, 193-D3-002, 193-B3-002, 193-H3-002, 193-E3-002 and 193-D1-002 share the sequence

The SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G2-001, 193-C2-001 and 193-F2-001 that differ in one position of the central stretch of nucleotides (consensus sequence of central stretch of nucleotides:

were analyzed in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. the SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 (K_(D) of 1.5 nM determined in a pull-down binding assay, IC₅₀ of 0.12 nM). Each of the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G2-001, 193-C2-001 and 193-F2 showed superior binding to human SDF-1 in comparison to SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 whereby the binding affinity of 193-G2-001 is as good as 193-C2-001 and 193-F2-001 (FIG. 3). The data suggests that the difference in the nucleotide sequence of the central stretch of nucleotides of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G2-001, 193-C2-001 and 193-F2-001 has no influence on the binding affinity to SDF-1. The SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G1-002, 193-D2-002, 193-A1-002, 193-D3-002, 193-B3-002, 193-H3-002, 193-E3-002 and 193-D1-002 showed reduced binding to human SDF-1 in comparison to SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 193-G2-001. SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 193-G2-001 was characterized for its binding affinity to human SDF-1. The equilibrium binding constant K_(D) was determined using the pull-down binding assay (K_(D)=0.3 nM). The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 0.08 nM for 193-G2-001 was measured using a cell culture in vitro chemotaxis assay.

Four, five or six nucleotides out of the six nucleotides of the 5′-terminal stretch of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids may hybridize to the respective four, five or six out of the six nucleotides of the 3′-terminal stretch of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids to form a terminal helix. Although the nucleotides are variable at several positions, the different nucleotides allow the hybridization for four, five or six nucleotides out of the six nucleotides of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches each. The 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretches of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids as shown in FIG. 3 can be summarized in a generic formula for the 5′-terminal stretch (‘X₁X₂GCRWG’ whereas X₁ is ‘A’ or absent, X₂ is ‘G’) and of the 3′-terminal stretch (‘KRYSCX₃X₄’ whereas X₃ is ‘G’, X₄ is ‘U’ or absent). SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G1-002, 193-D2-002, 193-A1-002 and 193-D3-002 have weaker binding affinities to SDF-1 although they share the identical central stretch of nucleotides with 193-C2-001, 193-G2-001 and 193-F2-001 (FIG. 3). The-unfavorable binding properties of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G1-002, 193-D2-002, 193-A1-002 and 193-D3-002 may be due to the number of nucleotides and sequence of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches.

Truncated derivatives of the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G2-001 and 193-C2-001 were analyzed in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. 193-G2-001 and 193-G2-012, respectively (FIGS. 4A and 4B). These experiments showed that a reduction of the six terminal nucleotides (5′end: AGCGUG; 3′end: UACGCU) of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G2-001 and 193-C2-001 to five nucleotides (5′end: GCGUG; 3′end: UACGC) lead to molecules with similar binding affinity (193-C2-002 and 193-G2-012). The equilibrium dissociation constant K_(D) was determined using the pull-down binding assay (K_(D)=0.3 nM). A truncation to four (5′end: CGUG; 3′end: UACG; 193-C2-003) or less nucleotides (193-C2-004, 193-C2-005, 193-C2-006, 193-C2-007) resulted in a reduced binding affinity to SDF-1 which was measured by using the competition pull-down binding assay (FIG. 4A). The nucleotide sequence of the five terminal nucleotides at the 5′- and 3′-end, respectively, has an influence on the binding affinity of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids. The substitution of 5′- and 3′-terminal nucleotides ‘GCGUG’ and ‘UACGC’ (193-C2-002, 193-G2-12) by ‘GCGCG’ and ‘CGCGC’ (193-G2-013) resulted in a reduced binding affinity. Additionally, the four different derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 193-G2-001 with a terminal helix with a length of four base-pairing nucleotides (193-G2-014/-015/-016/-017) were tested. All of them showed reduced binding affinity to SDF-1 (FIG. 4B). Therefore the sequence and the length of the 5′- and 3′-terminal nucleotides are essential for an effective binding to SDF-1. The 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretches with a length of five and four nucleotides of the derivatives of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-C2-003 and 193-G2-012 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be described in a generic formula for the 5′-terminal stretch (‘X₁X₂SSBS’), whereby X₁ is absent, X₂ is either absent or is ‘G’, and of the 3′-terminal stretch (‘BVSSX₃X₄’), and whereby X₃ is either absent or is ‘C’ and X₄ is absent. As shown for SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 193-G2-001 and 193-C2-01 and their derivatives 193-G2-012 and 193-C2-002 the preferred combination of 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches are ‘X₁X₂GCGUG’ (5′-terminal stretch) and ‘UACGCX₃X₄’ (3′-terminal stretch), whereas X₁ is either ‘A’ or absent, X₂ is ‘G’ and X₃ is ‘C’ and ‘X₄ is ‘U’ or absent.

However, combining the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches of all tested SDF-1 binding nucleic acids the generic formula for the 5′-terminal stretch of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids is ‘X₁X₂SVNS’ and the generic formula for the 3′-terminal stretch SDF-1 binding nucleic acids is ‘BVBSX₃X₄’, whereas

X₁ is ‘A’ or absent, X₂ is ‘G’, X₃ is ‘C’ and X₄ is ‘U’ or absent; or X₁ is absent, X₂ is ‘G’ or absent, X₃ is ‘C’ or absent and X₄ is absent.

In order to prolong the Spiegelmer's plasma residence time in vivo, Spiegelmers 193-G2-012 was covalently coupled to a 40 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety at the 5′-end as described in chapter 2 (PEGylated-nucleic acid molecule: 193-G2-012-5′-PEG also referred to as NOX-A12). The PEGylated Spiegelmer NOX-A12 was analyzed in cell culture in an in vitro chemotaxis-assay and an inhibition of SDF-1 induced chemotaxis was determined (IC₅₀ of 0.2 nM). The PEGylated Spiegelmer NOX-A12 was analyzed by Biacore measurement and a binding constant (K_(D)) of 0.2 nM was determined.

SDF-1 Binding Nucleic Acid Molecules of Type C

As depicted in FIG. 12 all sequences of SDF-1 binding nucleic acids of type C comprise one central stretch of nucleotides which is flanked by 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches (also referred to as first terminal stretch and second terminal stretch of nucleotides) that can hybridize to each other. However, such hybridization is not necessarily given in the molecule.

In the following the terms ‘SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules of type C’ and ‘Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids’ or Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid molecules’ are used herein in a synonymous manner if not indicated to the contrary.

The sequences of the defined boxes or stretches may be different between the SDF-1 binding nucleic acids of Type C which influences the binding affinity to SDF-1. Based on binding analysis of the different SDF-1 binding nucleic acids summarized as Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids, the central stretch of nucleotides and its nucleotide sequence as described in the following are individually and more preferably in their entirety essential for binding to SDF-1.

The central stretch of nucleotides of all identified sequences of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids share the sequence

whereby X_(A) is either absent or is ‘A’. With the exception of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 197-D1 the central stretch of nucleotides of all identified sequences of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids share the nucleotide sequence

binding nucleic acid 197-D1 (central stretch of nucleotides:

missing one nucleotide ‘A’ within the central stretch of nucleotides and still binding to SDF-1 let conclude an alternative central stretch of nucleotides

Initially, all Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids as depicted in FIG. 5 were analyzed in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. Type A SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 192-A10-001 (K_(D)=1.5 nM determined by pull-down assay and by surface plasmon resonance measurements; IC₅₀=0.12 nM). The Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 191-D5-001, 197-B2, 190-A3-001, 197-H1, 197-H3 and 197-E3 showed weaker binding affinities than 192-A10-001 in competition experiments. Much weaker binding affinity was determined for 191-A5, 197-B1, 197-D1, 197-H2 and 197-D2 (FIG. 5). The molecules or derivatives thereof were further characterized by further competitive pull-down binding assays, plasmon resonance measurements and an in vitro chemotaxis assay. The Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-001 was characterized for its binding affinity to human SDF-1 whereas the equilibrium binding constant K_(D) was determined by surface plasmon resonance measurement (K_(D)=0.8 nM). The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 0.2 nM for 191-D5-001 was measured using a cell-culture in vitro chemotaxis assay. The binding affinity of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 197-B2 for human SDF-1 was determined by surface plasmon resonance measurement (K_(D)=0.9 nM), its IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 0.2 nM was analyzed in a cell-culture in vitro chemotaxis assay. These data indicates that Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 191-D5-001 and 197-B2 have the similar binding affinity to SDF-1 (FIGS. 5 and 8).

Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 190-A3-001 comprises a 5′-terminal stretch of 17 nucleotides (‘CGUGCGCUUGAGAUAGG’, SEQ ID NO: 220) and a 3′-terminal stretch of 12 nucleotides (‘CUGAUUCUCACG’, SEQ ID NO: 221) whereby on the one hand the four nucleotides at the 5′-end of the 5′-terminal stretch and the four nucleotides at the 3′-end of the 3′-terminal stretch may hybridize to each other to form a terminal helix. Alternatively the nucleotides ‘UGAGA’ in the 5′-terminal stretch may hybridize to the nucleotides ‘UCUCA’ in the 3′-terminal stretch to form a terminal helix. A reduction to nine nucleotides of the 5′-terminal stretch (‘UGAGAUAGG’) and to ten (‘CUGAUUCUCA’, SEQ ID NO: 222) nucleotides of the 3′-terminal stretch (‘CUGAUUCUC’) of molecule 190-A3-001 does not have an influence on the binding affinity to SDF-1 (190-A3-003; FIG. 13). A reduction to eight nucleotides of the 5′-terminal stretch (‘GAGAUAGG’) and to nine nucleotides of the 3′-terminal stretch (‘CUGAUUCUC’) of molecule 190-A3-001 does not have an influence on the binding affinity to SDF-1 (190-A3-004; FIG. 6). The equilibrium binding constant K_(D) of 190-A3-004 was determined using the pull-down binding assay (K_(D)=4.6 nM) and by surface plasmon resonance measurement (K_(D)=4.7 nM). The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 0.1 nM for 190-A3-004 was measured using a cell-culture in vitro chemotaxis assay. However, the truncation to two nucleotides at the 5′-terminal stretch leads to a very strong reduction of binding affinity (190-A3-007; FIG. 6).

The Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 191-D5-001, 197-B2 and 197-H1 (central stretch of nucleotides:

197-H3/191-A5 (central stretch of nucleotides:

and 197-E3/197-B1 (central stretch of nucleotides:

share an almost identical central stretch of nucleotides (Type C formula-4; nucleotide sequence:

191-D5-001, 197-B2 and 197-H1 do not share a similar 5′- and 3′-terminal stretch (197-H3 and 197-E3 have the identical 5′- and 3′-terminal stretch as 197-B2). However, the respective ten (197-B2, 197-E3, 197-H3) or nine out of the ten (191-D5-001, 197-H1) nucleotides of the 5′-terminal stretch may hybridize to the respective ten (197-B2, 197-E3, 197-H3) or nine out of the ten (191-D5-001, 197-H1) nucleotides of the 3′-terminal stretch (FIG. 5). Thus, the 5′-terminal stretch of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 197-B2, 191-D5-001, 197-H1, 197-E3 and 197-H3 as mentioned above plus 191-A5, 197-B1, 197-H2, 197-D1 and 197-D2 comprise a common generic nucleotide sequence of ‘RKSBUSNVGR’ (Type C Formula-5-5′, SEQ ID NO: 138). The 3′-terminal stretch of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 197-B2, 191-D5-001, 197-H1, 197-E3, and 197-H3 as mentioned above plus 191-A5, 197-B1, 197-H2, 197-D1 and 197-D2 comprise a common generic nucleotide sequence of ‘YYNRCASSMY’ (Type C Formula-5-3′, SEQ ID NO: 139), whereby the 5′ and the 3′-terminal stretches of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 197-B2, 191-D5-001, 197-H1, 197-E3 and 197-H3 are preferred. These preferred 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 197-B2, 191-D5-001, 197-H1, 197-E3 and 197-H3 can be summarized in the generic formula ‘RKSBUGSVGR’ (Type C Formula-6-5′; 5′-terminal stretch, SEQ ID NO: 140) and ‘YCNRCASSMY’ (Type C Formula-6-3′; 3′-terminal stretch, SEQ ID NO: 141).

Truncated derivatives of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-001 were constructed and tested in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. the original molecule 191-D5-001 (FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B). At first the length of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches were shortened from ten nucleotides (191-D5-001) each to seven nucleotides each (191-D5-004) as depicted in FIG. 14A whereby nine out of the ten (191-D5-001) or six out of the seven nucleotides (191-D5-004) of the 5′-terminal stretch and of the 3′-terminal stretch, respectively can hybridize to each other. The reduction to seven nucleotides of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretch respectively (whereas six out of the seven nucleotides can hybridize to each other) led to reduced binding affinity to SDF-1 (191-D5-004). The terminal stretches of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-004 were modified whereby the non-pairing nucleotide ‘A’ within the 3′-terminal stretch of 191-D5-004 was substituted by a ‘C’ (191-D5-005). This modification led to an improvement of binding. This derivative, Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-005, showed similar binding to SDF-1 as 191-D5-001. Further truncation of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretch to five nucleotides respectively led to a molecule with a length of total 29 nucleotides (191-D5-007). Because of the similarities of 191-D5-001 and of the Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 197-B2, 191-D5-001, 197-H1, 191-A5, 197-H3, 197-B1, 197-E3, 197-D1, 197-H2 and 197-D2 and because of the data shown for 191-D5-007 it may assume that the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretch can in principle be truncated down to five nucleotides whereby the nucleotide sequence ‘CGGGA’ for 5′-terminal stretch and ‘UCCCG’ for the 3′-terminal stretch was successfully tested (Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-007). Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-007 surprisingly binds somewhat better to SDF-1 than 191-D5-001 (determined on aptamer level using the competition binding assay). The equilibrium binding constant K_(D) of 191-D5-007 was determined using the pull-down binding assay (K_(D)=2.2 nM) and by surface plasmon resonance measurement (K_(D)=0.8 nM). The IC₅₀ (inhibitory concentration 50%) of 0.1 nM for 191-D5-007 was measured using a cell-culture in vitro chemotaxis assay. Further truncation of both terminal stretches to four nucleotides (191-D5-010, FIG. 7A).

Further derivatives of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 191-D5-001 (191-D5-017/-024/-029) bearing 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches of respectively four nucleotides also showed reduced binding affinity to SDF-1 in the competition pull-down binding assay vs. 191-D5-007 (FIG. 7B). Alternative 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches with a length of respectively five nucleotides were additionally tested, too (191-D5-017-29a, 191-D5-017-29b, 191-D5-019-29a, 191-D5-024-29a, 191-D5-024-29b). The generic formula of these derivatives for the 5′-terminal stretch is ‘X_(S)SSSV’ (Type C Formula-7-5′) and for the 3′-stretch is ‘BSSSX_(S)’ Type C Formula-7-3′), whereby X_(S) is absent or, S′. Two out of the five tested variants showed identical binding affinity to SDF-1 as 191-D5-007 (191-D5-024-29a, 191-D5-024-29b; FIG. 7B). The sequences of the 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretches of 191-D5-001-derivatives that show the best binding affinity to SDF-1 and comprise a 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretch of five nucleotides respectively (191-D5-007, 191-D5-024-29a, 191-D5-024-29b) can be summarized in a generic formula (5′-terminal stretch: SGGSR′, Type C Formula-8-5′; 3′-terminal stretch: YSCCS′, Type C Formula-8-3′).

Truncated derivatives of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acid 197-B2 were analyzed in a competitive pull-down binding assay vs. the original molecule 197-B2 and 191-D5-007 (FIG. 7). Using the competitive pull-down binding assay vs. 191-D5-007 it was shown that 197-B2 has the same binding affinity to SDF-1 as 191-D5-007. The 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches were shortened without loss of binding affinity from ten nucleotides (197-B2) each to five nucleotides each (197-B2-005) whereby the nucleotides of the 5′-terminal stretch and of the 3′-terminal stretch can completely hybridize to each other. If the 5′-terminal (‘GCGGG’) and 3′-terminal (‘CCUGC’) stretch of 197-B2-005 was substituted by ‘GCCGG’ (5′-terminal stretch) and by ‘CCGGC’ (3′-terminal stretch) of 197-B2-006, the binding affinity to SDF-1 fully persisted. Because 197-B2 and 191-D5-001 (and their derivatives) share the identical core nucleotide sequence and several derivatives of 191-D5 with 5′- and 3′-terminal stretches with a length of respectively four nucleotides were tested, a further truncation of the 5′- and 3′-terminal stretch was omitted. Two further derivatives were designed that comprise six nucleotides at the 5′- and 3′-end (5′- and 3′-terminal stretches) respectively. The binding affinity to SDF-1 of both molecules (197-B2-006-31a and 197-B2-006-31b) is the same as shown for 191-D5-007 and 197-B2-006 (FIG. 15). The sequences of the 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretches of 197-B2 derivatives that show the best binding affinity to SDF-1 and comprise a 5′-terminal and 3′-terminal stretch of five nucleotides respectively can be summarized in a generic formula (5′-terminal stretch: ‘GCSGG’, Type C Formula-9-5′; 3′-terminal stretch: CCKGC′, Type C Formula-9-3′).

Combining the preferred 5′- and 3′-stretches of truncated derivatives of Type C SDF-1 binding nucleic acids 191-D5-001 (5′-terminal stretch: ‘SGGSR’, Type C Formula-8-5′; 3′-terminal stretch: YSCCS′, Type C Formula-8-3′) and 197-B2 (5′-terminal stretch: ‘GCSGG’, Type C Formula-9-5′; 3′-terminal stretch: CCKGC′, Type C Formula-9-3′) the common preferred generic formula for the 5′-terminal and the 3′-terminal stretch is ‘SSSSR’ (5′-terminal stretch, Type C Formula-10-5′) and ‘YSBSS’ (3′-terminal stretch: Type C Formula-10-3′).

In order to prolong the Spiegelmer's plasma residence time in vivo, Spiegelmers 197-B2-006 and 191-D5-007 were covalently coupled to a 40 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety at their 5′-ends as described in chapter 2. The PEGylated Spiegelmers 197-B2-006 and 191-D5-007 were analyzed in cell culture in an in vitro chemotaxis. The PEG-moiety has no influence on Spiegelmers potency to inhibit SDF-1 induced chemotaxis.

SDF-1 Binding Nucleic Acid Molecules of Type D

Additionally, further three SDF-1 binding nucleic acids that do not share the SDF-1 binding motifs of ‘Type A’, ‘Type B’ and ‘Type C’ were identified and are referred to herein as “type D”. There were analyzed as aptamers using the pull-down binding assay (FIG. 9).

It is to be understood that any of the sequences shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 are nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention, including those truncated forms thereof but also including those extended forms thereof under the proviso, however, that the thus truncated and extended, respectively, nucleic acid molecules are still capable of binding to the target.

EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis and Derivatization of Aptamers and Spiegelmers Small Scale Synthesis

Aptamers and Spiegelmers were produced by solid-phase synthesis with an ABI 394 synthesizer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA) using 2′TBDMS RNA phosphoramidite chemistry (Damha and Ogilvie, 1993). rA(N-Bz)-, rC(Ac)-, rG(N-ibu)-, and rU-phosphoramidites in the D- and L-configuration were purchased from ChemGenes, Wilmington, Mass. Aptamers and Spiegelmers were purified by gel electrophoresis.

Large Scale Synthesis Plus Modification

The Spiegelmers were produced by solid-phase synthesis with an ÄktaPilot100 synthesizer (Amersham Biosciences; General Electric Healthcare, Freiburg) using 2′TBDMS RNA phosphoramidite chemistry (Damha and Ogilvie, 1993). L-rA(N-Bz)-, L-rC(Ac)-, L-rG(N-ibu)-, and L-rU-phosphoramidites were purchased from ChemGenes (Wilmington, Mass., USA). The 5′-amino-modifier was purchased from American International Chemicals Inc. (Framingham, Mass., USA). Synthesis of the Spiegelmers was started on L-riboG; L-riboC, L-riboA, L-riboU respectively modified CPG pore size 1000 Å (Link Technology, Glasgow, UK). For coupling (15 min per cycle), 0.3 M benzylthiotetrazole (American International Chemicals Inc., Framingham, Mass., USA) in acetonitrile, and 3.5 equivalents of the respective 0.2 M phosphoramidite solution in acetonitrile was used. An oxidation-capping cycle was used. Further standard solvents and reagents for oligonucleotide synthesis were purchased from Biosolve (Valkenswaard, NL). The Spiegelmers were synthesized DMT-ON; after deprotection, it was purified via preparative RP-HPLC (Wincott F. et al., 1995) using Source15RPC medium (Amersham). The 5′DMT-group was removed with 80% acetic acid (90 min at RT). Subsequently, aqueous 2 M NaOAc solution was added and the Spiegelmer was desalted by tangential-flow filtration using a 5 K regenerated cellulose membrane (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.).

Pegylation

In order to prolong the Spiegelmer's plasma residence time in vivo, the Spiegelmers were covalently coupled to a 40 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety at the 5′-end.

For PEGylation (for technical details of the method for PEGylation see European patent application EP 1 306 382), the purified 5′-amino modified Spiegelmerd were dissolved in a mixture of H₂O (2.5 ml), DMF (5 ml), and buffer A (5 ml; prepared by mixing citric acid·H₂O [7 g], boric acid [3.54 g], phosphoric acid [2.26 ml], and 1 M NaOH [343 ml] and adding water to a final volume of 1 l; pH=8.4 was adjusted with 1 M HCl).

The pH of the Spiegelmer solution was brought to 8.4 with 1 M NaOH. Then, 40 kDa PEG-NHS ester (JenKem Technology USA Inc., Allen, Tex.) was added at 37° C. every 30 min in six portions of 0.25 equivalents until a maximal yield of 75 to 85% was reached. The pH of the reaction mixture was kept at 8-8.5 with 1 M NaOH during addition of the PEG-NHS ester.

The reaction mixture was blended with 4 ml urea solution (8 M), and 4 ml buffer B (0.1 M triethylammonium acetate in H₂O) and heated to 95° C. for 15 min. The PEGylated Spiegelmer was then purified by RP-HPLC with Source 15RPC medium (Amersham), using an acetonitrile gradient (buffer B; buffer C: 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate in acetonitrile). Excess PEG eluted at 5% buffer C, PEGylated Spiegelmer at 10-15% buffer C. Product fractions with a purity of >95% (as assessed by HPLC) were combined and mixed with 40 ml 3 M NaOAC. The PEGylated Spiegelmer was desalted by tangential-flow filtration (5 K regenerated cellulose membrane, Millipore, Bedford Mass.).

EXAMPLE 3 Determination of Binding Constants (Pull-Down Binding Assay) Direct Pull-Down Binding Assay

The affinity of aptamers to biotinlayted human D-SDF-1 was measured in a pull-down binding assay format at 37° C. Aptamers were 5′-phosphate labeled by T4 polynucleotide kinase (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) using [γ-³²P]-labeled ATP (Hartmann Analytic, Braunschweig, Germany). The specific radioactivity of labeled aptamers was 200,000-800,000 cpm/pmol. Aptamers were incubated after de- and renaturation at 10, 20, 30 or 40 pM concentration at 37° C. in selection buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4; 137 mM NaCl; 5 mM KCl; 1 mM MgCl₂; 1 mM CaCl₂; 0.1% [w/vol] Tween-20) together with varying amounts of biotinlayted human D-SDF-1 for 4-12 hours in order to reach equilibrium at low concentrations. Selection buffer was supplemented with 10 μg/ml human serum albumin (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany), and 10 μg/ml yeast RNA (Ambion, Austin, USA) in order to prevent adsorption of binding partners with surfaces of used plasticware or the immobilization matrix. The concentration range of biotinlayted human D-SDF-1 was set from 8 pM to 100 nM; total reaction volume was 1 ml. Peptide and peptide-aptamer complexes were immobilized on 1.5 μl Streptavidin Ultralink Plus particles (Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford, USA) which had been preequilibrated with selection buffer and resuspended in a total volume of 6 μl. Particles were kept in suspension for 30 min at the respective temperature in a thermomixer. Immobilized radioactivity was quantitated in a scintillation counter after detaching the supernatant and appropriate washing. The percentage of binding was plotted against the concentration of biotinlayted human D-SDF-1 and dissociation constants were obtained by using software algorithms (GRAFIT; Erithacus Software; Surrey U.K.) assuming a 1:1 stoichiometry.

Competitive Pull-Down Binding Assay

In order to compare different D-SDF-1 binding aptamers, a competitive ranking assay was performed. For this purpose the most affine aptamer available was radioactively labeled (see above) and served as reference. After de- and renaturation it was incubated at 37° C. with biotinlayted human D-SDF-1 in 1 ml selection buffer at conditions that resulted in around 5-10% binding to the peptide after immobilization and washing on NeutrAvidin agarose or Streptavidin Ultralink Plus (both from Pierce) without competition. An excess of de- and renatured non-labeled D-RNA aptamer variants was added to different concentrations (e.g. 2, 10, and 50 nM) with the labeled reference aptamer to parallel binding reactions. The aptamers to be tested competed with the reference aptamer for target binding, thus decreasing the binding signal in dependence of their binding characteristics. The aptamer that was found most active in this assay could then serve as a new reference for comparative analysis of further aptamer variants.

EXAMPLE 4 Binding Analysis by Surface Plasmon Resonance Measurement

The Biacore 2000 instrument (Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden) was used to analyze binding of Spiegelmers to human SDF-1α. When coupling of human SDF-1α was to be achieved via amine groups, human SDF-1α was dialyzed against water for 1-2 h (Millipore VSWP mixed cellulose esters; pore size, 0.025 μM) to remove interfering amines. CM4 sensor chips (Biacore AB, Uppsala, Sweden) were activated before protein coupling by a 35-μl injection of a 1:1 dilution of 0.4 M NHS and 0.1 M EDC at a flow of 5 μl/min. Human MCP-1 or human SDF-1α was then injected in concentrations of 0.1-1.5 μg/ml at a flow of 2 μl/min until the instrument's response was in the range of 1000-2000 RU (relative units). Unreacted NHS esters were deactivated by injection of 35 μl ethanolamine hydrochloride solution (pH 8.5) at a flow of 5 μl/min. The sensor chip was primed twice with binding buffer and equilibrated at 10 μl/min for 1-2 hours until the baseline appeared stable. For all proteins, kinetic parameters and dissociation constants were evaluated by a series of Spiegelmer injections at concentrations of 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25, and 0 nM in selection buffer (Tris-HCl, 20 mM; NaCl, 137 mM; KCl, 5 mM; CaCl₂, 1 mM; MgCl₂, 1 mM; Tween20, 0.1% [w/v]; pH 7.4). In all experiments, the analysis was performed at 37° C. using the Kinject command defining an association time of 180 and a dissociation time of 360 seconds at a flow of 10 μl/min. Data analysis and calculation of dissociation constants (K_(D)) was done with the BIAevaluation 3.0 software (BIACORE AB, Uppsala, Sweden) using the Langmuir 1:1 stoichiometric fitting algorithm.

EXAMPLE 5 Analysis of the Inhibition of SDF-1-Induced Chemotaxis by SDF-1-Binding Spiegelmers

The human T cell leukemia cell line Jurkat, the human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cell line U937, the human pre-B cell leukemia cell line BV-173 and human pre-B ALL cell line Nalm-6 express CXCR4. While Jurkat cells do not express CXCR7, the leukemia lines BV-173 and U-937 were tested positive for CXCR7 expression. All cells used were obtained from the DSMZ (Braunschweig). All cell lines were cultivated at 37° C. and 5% CO2 in RPMI 1640 medium with Glutamax (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) which contains 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). One day before the experiment, cells were seeded in a new T175 flask with a density of 0.3×10⁶/ml (Jurkat, U937, BV-173) or 0.75×10⁶/ml (Nalm-6), respectively.

For the experiment, cells were centrifuged (5 min at 300 g), resuspended, counted and washed once with 15 ml HBH (Hanks balanced salt solution containing 1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin and 20 mM HEPES; Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). Then the cells were resuspended at 1.33×10⁶/ml (Jurkat, U937, BV-173) or 2.67×10⁶/ml (Nalm-6), respectively. Cells were then allowed to migrate through the porous membranes of the filter plates for three hours towards a solution containing SDF-1 and various amounts of Spiegelmer. The stimulation solutions (SDF-1+various concentrations of Spiegelmer) were made up as 10× solutions in a 0.2 ml low profile 96-tube plate. 212 μl HBH were pipetted into the lower compartments of the transport plate and 23.5 μl of the stimulation solutions were added. All conditions were made up as triplicates. After 20 to 30 min the filter plate was inserted into the plate containing the stimulation solutions and 75 μl of a cell suspension with 1.33×10⁶/ml or 2.67×10⁶/ml, respectively, were added to the wells of the filter plate (1×10⁵ or 2×10⁵ cells/well). The cells were then allowed to migrate for 3 h at 37° C. For calibration, 0, 10 and 30 μl of the cell suspension was added to 235, 225 and 205 μl HBH, respectively, in wells of a separate 96-well plate. After 3 hours incubation, the insert plate was removed and 30 μl resazurin working solution (440 μM in PBS) were added to the lower wells and to the wells of the calibration plate. The plates were then incubated at 37° C. for 2.5 h. After incubation, 100 μl of each well were transferred to a black 96 well plate.

For evaluation, fluorescence values were corrected for background fluorescence (no cells in well). Then the difference between experimental conditions with and without SDF-1 was calculated. The value for the sample without Spiegelmer (SDF-1 only) was set 100% and the values for the samples with Spiegelmer were calculated as percent of this. For a dose-response curve the percent-values were plotted against Spiegelmer concentration and the IC₅₀-value (concentration of Spiegelmer at which 50% of the activity without Spiegelmer is present) was determined graphically from the resulting curve.

Results

Human SDF-1 was found to stimulate migration of Jurkat cells in a dose dependent manner, with half-maximal stimulation at about 0.3 nM.

Human SDF-1 was found to stimulate migration of cells of the human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cell line U937 in a dose dependent manner, with half-maximal stimulation at about 3 nM.

Human SDF-1 was found to stimulate migration of cells of the human pre-B cell leukemia cell line BV-173 in a dose dependent manner, with half-maximal stimulation at about 3 nM.

Human SDF-1 was found to stimulate migration of cells of the human pre-B ALL cell line Nalm-6 in a dose dependent manner, with half-maximal stimulation at about 0.3 nM.

When cells were allowed to migrate towards a solution containing human SDF-1 plus increasing concentrations of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmers, dose-dependent inhibition was observed. The respective IC50s of the tested Spiegelmers as specified in Example 1 were determined in human T cell leukemia cell line Jurkat cells. For example, for SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 (also referred to as 193-G2-012-5′-PEG) an IC50 of 0.2 nM was determined (FIG. 10). When an unspecific Control Spiegelmer was used instead of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmers, no inhibitory effect was observed up to 1 μM.

Inhibition of the SDF-1 induced chemotaxis by SDF-1 binding spiegelmer NOX-A12 was also observed in three other different leukemia cell types: the human leukemic monocyte lymphoma cell line U937 (FIG. 11B), the human pre-B cell leukemia cell line BV-173 (FIG. 12) and the human pre-B ALL cell line Nalm-6 (FIG. 11A). Furthermore, we have evidence that primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells migrate towards SDF-1 and that SDF-1 dependent chemotaxis is effectively blocked by NOX-A12.

The leukemia lines BV-173 and U-937 were tested positive also for CXCR7 expression. The potency of SDF-binding spiegelmer NOX-A12 to block interaction of SDF-1 and CXCR7 was determined as shown in Example 6.

EXAMPLE 6 Inhibition of CXCR7 Activation by SDF-1-Binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12

Besides CXCR4, SDF-1 also binds to the chemokine receptor CXCR7. The inhibitory potential of SDF-1-binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 towards CXCR7 was tested in a complementation assay with CHO cells stably expressing CXCR7 and β-arrestin both fused to a fragment of β-galactosidase (PathHunter™—β-arrestin assay, DiscoveRX, CA, USA). Upon SDF-1 binding β-arrestin complexed with CXCR7 and thus led to complementation and activation of the β-galactosidase which was measured with a chemiluminescence substrate.

Method

PathHunter eXpress CHO-K1 Human CXCR7 β-arrestin cells were plated for 48 hours in OCC2 Medium and stimulated with 10 nM SDF-1 and various concentrations of SDF-1-binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 for 90 minutes. Following stimulation, signal was detected using the PathHUnter Detection Kit and the manufacturer's recommended protocol (DiscoveRX, CA, USA).

Results

Stimulation of β-galactosidase and hence CXCR7 activation with 10 nM human SDF-1 was efficiently blocked by SDF-1-binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 with an IC50 of 5.4 nM (FIG. 13).

EXAMPLE 7 Functional Analysis of Human SDF-1 Binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG in an Aortic Ring Sprouting Assay

To test whether human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG is functional also in a standard angiogenesis organ culture assay, aortic ring sprouting assays were performed. This assay, in which the length and abundance of vessel-like extensions from the explants are evaluated, has become the most widely used organ culture model for angiogenesis (Auerbach et al. 2003). It has already been shown that SDF-1 induces sprouting in this type of assay (Salcedo et al. 1999).

Rat aortae were cut into rings, embedded in a collagen matrix and incubated with SDF-1 and SDF-1 plus human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG or SDF plus an non-functional PEGylated Control Spiegelmer that does not bind SDF-1. After 6 to 7 days, sprouting (i.e. outgrowth of endothelial cells) was analysed by taking pictures and determining a sprouting index.

Method

Aortae from male rats were obtained from Bagheri Life sciences (Berlin, Germany). The aortae were prepared freshly and transported on ice in MCDB 131-Medium (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) containing 50 units/ml penicillin, 50 μg/ml streptomycin (both Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) and 2.5 μg/ml fungizone (Cambrex, USA).

For an experiment a single aorta was transferred to a cell culture dish together with the medium and residual connective tissue was removed. Then the aorta was cut with a scalpel into rings of about 1 to 2 mm length. The rings were washed intensively (at least five times) in Medium199 (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) and then placed in wells of a 24 well plate, containing 450 μl of collagen solution per well. This collagen solution was prepared by mixing 9 ml rat tail collagen (3 mg/ml in 0.1% acetic acid; Sigma, Deisenhofen, Germany) with 1.12 ml 10× Medium 199 (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany), 1.12 ml 10× Collagen-buffer (0.05 N NaOH, 200 mM HEPES, 260 mM NaHCO₃) and 0.6 ml 200 mM Glutamin. The rings were oriented such that the trimmed edges were perpendicular to the bottom of the well. The collagen was allowed to solidify by incubating the plates for at least one hour at 37° C. Thereafter 1 ml MCDB131-medium with additions (SDF-1 and Spiegelmers) was added per well. Rings were then incubated at 37° C. for six to seven days. As control for sprouting the experiments were additionally done with VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor).

Sprouting was documented by taking pictures with a digital camera. In some cases rings were fixed by addition of 1 ml 10% paraformaldehyde and stored at 2-8° C. for further documentation. Pictures were analysed with the Scion Image image processing software. After calibration with the help of a picture taken from a stage micrometer, a line was drawn in a distance of 0.33 mm from one edge of a ring. A plot histogram along this line was generated by the software, histograms were printed and peaks (representing sprouts crossing the line) were counted. This number was taken as sprouting index. 4 to 5 rings per condition were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with WinSTAT for Excel.

Results

It could be demonstrated that SDF-1 induces sprouting and that this effect could be blocked with human SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer 193-G2-012-5′-PEG No blockage of SDF-1 induced sprouting was observed by the non-functional PEGylated Control Spiegelmer (FIGS. 14 and 15).

EXAMPLE 8 Effect of SDF-1 Binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 on Chemosensitization of Leukemia Cells

There is considerable evidence that leukemia cells may be protected from conventional chemotherapies by interaction between their CXCR4 receptors with SDF-1 secreted by stromal cells within particular tissue microenvironments such as the bone marrow (abbr. BM) niche. Therefore, targeting the CXCR4-SDF-1 axis by using the SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 is an attractive approach for disrupting the protective effects of SDF-1-secreting stromal cells and for sensitizing leukemia cells towards subsequent chemotherapy.

In order to mimic the in vivo interaction of the BM microenvironment with leukemia cells, an in vitro coculture system with murine BM stromal MS-5 cells and the multiple myeloma (abbr. MM) cell line RPMI 8226 was established. Aim of the experiment was to show whether SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 sensitizes MM cells in coculture with stromal cells to effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Stromal MS-5 cells secreting SDF1 were incubated with SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 or the non-functional revNOX-A12. The MM cell line RPMI-8226 was added to the confluent stromal cell layer. The cells were then incubated with the chemotherapeutic agent F ara A (Fludarabine) for 40 hours. Cell Viability was measured.

Method

The murine stromal cell line MS-5 (ACC 441) was purchased from the DSMZ, the Multiple Myeloma cell line RPMI8226 (CCL-155) was purchased from the ATCC. The Multiple Myeloma cell line RPMI8226 was maintained in RPMI medium 1640 GlutaMAX (Invitrogen) supplemented with 10% FBS (Biochrom) and penicillin-streptomycin, the MS-5 cells were cultured in MEM alpha GlutaMAX (Invitrogen) with 10% FBS and penicillin-streptomycin. For chemosensitization coculture experiments stromal MS-5 cells were seeded the day before onto 24-well plates (the inner eight wells) at a concentration of 8×104/mL/well in MEM alpha GlutaMAX medium (+10% FBS) and incubated at 37° C. in 5% CO2. The confluent stromal cell layer was washed and 0.5 mL RPMI medium 1640 (+1% FBS) was added to the wells. SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 or revNOX-A12 was subsequently added to the wells to a final concentration of 100 nM and incubated for four hours. 3.5×105 RPMI8226 cells in RPMI medium 1640 (+1% FBS) were added to the stromal cell layer. Four hours later, 1 μM F-ara-A (Sigma Aldrich) was added to the cells when indicated. After 40 hours of incubation the cells were collected in 15 mL tubes, first the supernatant was harvested and then the attached cells were trypsinized including MS-5 cells. The collected cells were washed twice with PBS (+1% BSA) and resuspended in 2 mL PBS (+1% BSA). 150 lit of the cell suspension was transferred in a u-shape 96-well plate and then incubated with 50 μL of ViaCount Reagent (Millipore) for 15 minutes at room temperature. Cell viability and cell number were determined by Flow Cytometry using the Guava EasyCyte 6HT/2L (Millipore).

Results

Cell viability of RPMI-8226 cells cocultured with stromal MS-5 cells was only slightly affected by SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX A12. 1 μM F-ara-A showed no significant effect on the viability of RPMI-8226 cells. However, when NOX-A12 and F-ara-A were combined, a synergistic decrease of cell viability was observed (FIG. 16). Thus, SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 was shown to sensitize the MM cell line RPMI-8226 towards treatment of the chemotherapeutic agent F-ara-A when cocultured with the BM stromal cell line MS 5. The viability of stromal MS-5 cells is neither affected by F-ara-A nor by NOX-A12 (data not shown). These results demonstrate a proof of principle in the potential of NOX A12 in disrupting to disrupt the protective effects of SDF-1 secreted by BM stromal cells.

EXAMPLE 9 Effect of SDF-1 Binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 on Proliferation of Leukemia Cells

Aim of the experiment was to show whether SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 has an impact on proliferation of leukemia cells in coculture with bone marrow (abbr. BM) stromal cells. Murine stromal MS-5 cells secreting SDF-1 were incubated with SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 or the non-functional Spiegelmer revNOX-A12. The leukemic T-cell line Jurkat was added to the confluent stromal cell layer and incubated for 40 hours at 37° C. and 5% CO2. Cell numbers were quantified by Flow Cytometry using the Guava EasyCyte and ViaCount Reagent.

Method

The murine stromal cell line MS-5 (ACC 441) were purchased from the DSMZ and were cultured in MEM alpha GlutaMAX (Invitrogen) with 10% FBS and penicillin-streptomycin. For proliferation coculture experiments stromal MS-5 cells were seeded the day before onto 24-well plates (the inner eight wells) at a concentration of 8×104/mL/well in MEM alpha GlutaMAX medium (+10% FBS) and incubated at 37° C. in 5% CO2. The confluent stromal cell layer was washed and 0.5 mL RPMI medium 1640 (+1% FBS) was added to the wells. SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 or Spiegelmer revNOX A12 was subsequently added to the wells to a final concentration of 100 nM and incubated for four hours. 2×105 Jurkat cells (˜logarithmic growth phase; washed once) in RPMI medium 1640 (+1% FBS) were added to the confluent stromal cell layer and incubated for 48 hours at 37° C. with 5% CO2. The cells were then collected in 15 mL tubes, attached cells were trypsinized including MS-5 cells. The collected cells were washed twice with PBS (+1% BSA). 150 μL of this cell suspension was transferred in a u-shape 96-well plate and then incubated with 50 μL ViaCount Reagent (Millipore) for 15 minutes at room temperature. Cell viability and cell number were determined by Flow Cytometry using the Guava EasyCyte 6HT/2L.

Results

While 1 nM SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 showed no effect on the Jurkat cell number after 40 hours of cultivation, the cell number was reduced up to 20% when stromal MS-5 cells were preincubated with 10 or 100 nM SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 (FIG. 17). Thus, SDF-1 secreted by stromal cells apparently stimulates the proliferation of Jurkat cells. The SDF-1 dependent induction of proliferation can be blocked by SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 leading to the detection of fewer a lower amount of leukemic cells.

EXAMPLE 10 Effect of SDF-1 Binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 on Adhesive Properties of Leukemia Cells

The interaction of leukemic cells with extracellular matrix (abbr. ECM) proteins plays a crucial role in leukemia pathogenesis. Therefore we tested the effect of SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 on adhesion of leukemia cells on the ECM protein fibronectin. Stimulation of the Jurkat leukemia T-cell line with SDF-1 led to a dose-dependent modulation of adhesion on to fibronectin.

Methods

The T cell leukemia Jurkat (ACC 282) were purchased from the DSMZ were maintained in RPMI medium 1640 GlutaMAX (Invitrogen) supplemented with 10% FBS (Biochrom) and penicillin-streptomycin. For the adhesion experiments 96-well culture plates were incubated with 10 μg/mL human fibronectin (R&D systems) in PBS for 2 hours at 37° C. The plates were washed twice with 100 μL PBS and subsequently blocked with PBS-BSA (0.1%) for two hours at 37° C. The wells were then washed with RPMI medium. Jurkat cells from logarithmic growth phase were washed with RPMI medium (+0.1% BSA) and incubated with various concentrations of human SDF-1 (R&D systems) and NOX-A12 for 15 minutes at 37° C. NOX-A12 and SDF-1 were preincubated for 30 minutes. 1×105 stimulated Jurkat cells were seeded to the Fibronectin-coated 96-well plates and incubated for 30 minutes. The plates were then washed five times with RPMI medium. Attached cells were quantified by using Cell Titer Glo Reagent (Promega). Therefor, 50 μL RPMI medium was added to each well, followed by 50 μL of Cell Titer Glo Reagent. The plates were mixed for two minutes, followed by incubation at room temperature for 10 minutes. Cell number was quantified by relative luminescence signal.

Results

Low to medium concentrations of SDF-1 (1-10 nM) decreased the adhesion of Jurkat cells to fibronectin, while higher concentrations (30-300 nM) increased the adhesive properties of Jurkat cells (FIG. 18A). SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 was shown to reverse this effect, the control Spiegelmer revNOX-A12 not (FIG. 18B). Thus SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 might have an impact on the disruption of leukemic cell interactions with their protective ECM environment. Furthermore, this example might explain SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 dependent detachment and mobilization of hematopoetic cells from the bone marrow niche.

EXAMPLE 11 Disruption of the Interaction of Multiple Myeloma Cells with the Bone Marrow Environment In Vivo Thereby Enhancing the Sensitivity of the Multiple Myeloma Cells to Therapy

The SDF-1/CXCR4 axis plays a major role in homing and trafficking of multiple myeloma (abbr. MM) cells to the bone marrow (abbr. BM). Therefore, de-adhesion of MM cells from the surrounding BM milieu through SDF-1 inhibition enhances MM sensitivity to therapeutic agents. Azab et al. published a protocol to test the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 potency to disrupt the interaction of MM cells with the BM environment in vivo that affects localization MM cells [, which in turn enhances the sensitivity of MM cells to chemotherapy. They reported that the blockade of the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4 by the CXCR4 specific antagonist led to a disruption of the interaction of MM cells with the BM environment in vivo, to enhanced sensitivity of the MM cells to therapy, and as a result to enhanced tumor reduction induced by bortezomib (Azab et al. 2009). Based on this protocol (Azab et al. 2009) the SDF-1 binding Spiegelmer NOX-A12 is tested for its potency to disrupt the interaction of MM cells with the BM environment in vivo thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the MM cells to therapy.

For the MM animal model severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice are used whereby Luc+/GFP+MM.1S cells (2×10⁶/mouse) are injected into the tail vein of SCID mice. After 3 to 4 weeks, sufficient tumor progression is detected by bioluminescence imaging (for protocol see Azab et al. 2009). Mice are randomly divided into 4 groups: group 1, control mice (received vehicle: 5% glucose); group 2, mice treated every other day with 20 mg/kg NOX-A12 subcutaneous injection; group 3, mice treated with intraperitoneal bortezomib injection of 0.5 mg/kg twice a week; group 4, mice treated with intraperitoneal bortezomib injection of 0.5 mg/kg twice a week and every other day with 20 mg/kg NOX-A12 subcutaneous injection.

The localization of the MM tumor cells in the bone marrow is determined in vivo confocal microscopy using a fluorescence labelled anti-SDF antibody (for protocol see Azab et al. 2009), whereby the administration of NOX-A12 leads to MM cell mobilization from bone marrow to the blood (as determined by ex vivo flow cytometry; for protocol see Azab et al. 2009) and to a reduction of tumor growth when administered together with bortezomib (by in vivo bioluminescence detection; for protocol see Mitsiades et al., 2003; Mitsiades et al. 2004). The stronger effects on tumor growth by bortezomib plus NOX-A12 in comparison to a treatment with bortezomib alone support the data of Example 8 showing positive effects of NOX-12 on chemosensitization of MM cells.

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The complete bibliographic data of the documents recited herein are, if not indicated to the contrary, as follows, whereby the disclosure of said references is incorporated herein by reference.

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The features of the present invention disclosed in the specification, the claims and/or the drawings may both separately and in any combination thereof be material for realizing the invention in various forms thereof. 

1-106. (canceled)
 107. A method for the treatment of a subject suffering from cancer comprising: a) administering to the subject a cancer-treating amount of an L-nucleic acid molecule, or a homolog thereof, wherein said L-nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:22, and said homolog comprises homology to SEQ ID NO:22 of at least 85%, and wherein said L-nucleic acid molecule binds SDF-1 and inhibits interaction of (a) SDF-1 and CXCR4 or (b) SDF-1 and CXCR7.
 108. The method according to claim 107 further comprising: b) irradiating the subject; c) surgically treating said subject; d) treating said subject with a cellular therapy; e) administering a pharmaceutically active agent to the subject; or f) combination thereof.
 109. The method according to claim 107, wherein the L-nucleic acid molecule that binds SDF-1 is administered as an adjunct therapy or part of an adjunct therapy.
 110. The method according to claim 109, wherein the adjunct therapy sensitizes the subject, wherein the sensitized subject is more responsive to a therapy for the treatment of cancer.
 111. The method according to claim 107, wherein the cancer comprises a hematological cancer or a solid tumor.
 112. The method according to claim 111, wherein the hematological cancer comprises leukemia or myeloma.
 113. The method according to claim 111, wherein the solid tumor comprises glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer or lung cancer.
 114. The method of claim 107, wherein said L-nucleic acid molecule or homolog thereof comprises a modification.
 115. The method of claim 114, wherein said modification comprises a high molecular weight moiety.
 116. The method of claim 114, wherein said modification enhances residence time in an animal or human host.
 117. The method of claim 108, wherein said pharmaceutically active agent comprises an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, a plant terpenoid or a topoisomerase inhibitor.
 118. The method of claim 108, wherein said pharmaceutically active agent comprises leucovorin, methotrexate, tamoxifen, sorafenib, lenalidomide, bortezomib, dexamethasone, fluorouracil or prednisone.
 119. A method of treating a patient with cancer, comprising: (1) administering to said patient an L-nucleic acid, or a homolog thereof, and then (2) administering a cancer treatment to said patient, wherein said L-nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:22 and said homolog comprises a homology to SEQ ID NO:22 of at least 85%, and wherein said L-nucleic acid molecule binds SDF-1 and inhibits interaction of (a) SDF-1 and CXCR4 or (b) SDF-1 and CXCR7.
 120. The method according to claim 119, wherein said cancer comprises a hematological cancer or a solid tumor.
 121. The method according to claim 120, wherein the hematological cancer comprises leukemia or myeloma.
 122. The method according to claim 120, wherein the solid tumor comprises glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer or lung cancer.
 123. The method of claim 119, wherein said L-nucleic acid or homolog thereof comprises a modification.
 124. The method of claim 123, wherein said modification comprises a high molecular weight moiety.
 125. The method of claim 119, wherein said cancer treatment comprises an antibody, an alkylating agent, an anti-metabolite, a plant alkaloid, a plant terpenoid or a topoisomerase inhibitor.
 126. The method of claim 119, wherein said cancer treatment comprises leucovorin, methotrexate, tamoxifen, sorafenib, lenalidomide, bortezomib, dexamethasone, fluorouracil or prednisone. 